LatviaPublished: 21 August 2026 at 18:59

Turkish F-16 fighter jets land at Lielvārde military base

Two Turkish F-16 fighter jets landed at the Lielvārde military base on Friday as part of the Baltic air policing mission. The visit underscores NATO's presence in the region.

Two Turkish air force F-16 fighter jets landed on Friday at the National Armed Forces military base in Lielvārde, the Latvian Ministry of Defence reported.

The Turkish fighter jets are taking part in the Baltic air policing mission, part of NATO's collective defence measures in the region. The aircraft's visit to Lielvārde is seen as a demonstration of NATO's presence in the Baltics.

NATO air policing mission

The Baltic states do not have their own fighter jet fleets, so their airspace has for years been protected by rotating units from NATO allied countries. Fighter jets from different nations take turns carrying out patrol duties to ensure the security of Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian airspace.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the arrival of the Turkish fighter jets at the Lielvārde base, highlighting their role in strengthening NATO's military presence in the region.

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