For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
The Pentagon will more than double the number of fighter jets it is sending to a Nato air policing mission in the Baltics as part of Washington’s response to the Ukraine crisis, officials have said.
The development came after the US Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel, announced plans to bolster the decade-old mission, which patrols skies over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Officials said the Pentagon would send six additional F-15 jets and one KC-135 refuelling aircraft to “augment” the mission this week. The US already provides four F-15 jets to the mission.
The planes, reportedly based at RAF Lakenheath in the UK, will fly to the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania.
“This action comes at the request of our Baltic allies and further demonstrates our commitment to Nato security,” a Pentagon official said. The Pentagon is now said to be “consulting” with Poland on a separate mission.
In pictures: The crisis in Ukraine
Show all 15
“This is a time for wise, steady and firm leadership,” Mr Hagel told a Senate panel. “It is a time for all of us to stand with the Ukrainian people in support of their territorial integrity and their sovereignty. We are doing that.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies