Spanish Armed Forces will participate in NATO's Air Policing mission in Romania, for the first time

• They will watch over Romanian air space throughout February and March.

Four Eurofighters from the Spanish Air Force will arrive on January the 21st to the Mihail Koglaniceau Base in Romania, in order to carry out a NATO Air Policing mission along with the Romanian Air Force.

Operated by 130 airmen, The Eurofighters will be deployed in Romania under the enhanced NATO Air Policing mission in order to watch the Romanian air space for the next two months. It is the first time that Spain deploys fighter jets in Southeast Europe to support the Alliance's deterrence and defence measures.

The Spanish Armed Forces are a regular contributor to NATO's air policing. In addition to patrolling national airspace under NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Torrejón, Spain, the Spanish Air Force has also carried out seven deployments leading and enhancing the NATO Air Police mission in the Baltic States controlled by the CAOC in Uedem, Germany.

In Romania, the Detachment will continue displaying the cohesion and solidarity of the Alliance within the frame of air policing. NATO introduced this defensive mission in 2014 to demonstrate the collective resolve of the Allies, to show the defensive nature of NATO and to deter Russia from aggression or the threat of aggression against NATO Allies. Since its inception, Canada, Italy, Portugal and the UK have carried out enhanced air police deployments, by stablishing training and operational relationships with Romanian Air Force, and jointly protecting Alliance airspace in the Black Sea.