Norway will be responsible under NATO to protect the airspace of Poland's Rzeszów airport and will send 100 troops, air defense systems and F-35 fighter jets to do so, Norway's defense minister announced on Monday.
The airport, which is 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, is in the middle of the transportation of military equipment. Different NATO partners are taking turns in providing Poland with air protection, Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said in a statement.
“The airport is part of the medical evacuation efforts that Norway is facing,” added Gram.
NASAMS air defense systems, troops and warplanes will be deployed in the coming days and the Norwegian mission, which will operate in Polish airspace, will remain until Easter, Gram said.
US troops are currently stationed there, and the airport is protected by US Patriot air defense units. Germany also announced last week that it will move Patriot systems to southeastern Poland at the beginning of the year.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz thanked Norway in a letter to X.
“From December, the security of our borders will be strengthened even more. Four Norwegian F-35s and their air defense systems will protect our territory and the eastern flank of NATO. Many thanks to our Norwegian partners!”
Poland is an important political and military ally of Ukraine, which has been under attack by Russia for more than two and a half years. Warsaw also plays an important role as a base for Western military aid to Kiev.
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