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Germany pledges continued involvement in Baltic airspace policing mission

Xinhua, March 3, 2017 Adjust font size:

Visiting German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday pledged her country's continued involvement in the NATO-led Baltic airspace policing mission.

While visiting the Amari air base in northwestern Estonia, von der Leyen promised that soon German fighter jets will again be guarding Baltic airspace from the air base.

She praised Estonia as an "excellent host" to German Air Force personnel. "We have laid a good foundation to our cooperation and we will definitely return here again."

Estonian Defense Minister Margus Tsahkna voiced gratitude for Germany's staunch support, describing Germany's participation in the Baltic airspace policing mission as a "strong message of our cooperation".

Tsahkna also noted that EU member states have to increase their defense capabilities in order to ensuring Europe's security.

Bilateral talks between the two ministers focused mainly on cooperation between the EU and NATO, and the necessity to bolster European countries' defense capabilities. Endit