Italy offers fighter jets to bolster NATO's Eastern border

Italy will be contributing to strengthening NATO’s presence on the Eastern flank.

The move involves the provision of at least two fighter jets, according to an Italian media report, cited by Caliber.Az.

The government is weighing between Eurofighter and F-35 aircraft, with preference being given to the latter. They could reportedly join the four Italian jets already stationed at a base in Estonia. In addition, Italy may extend the deployment of the Samp-T air defence system, which is already positioned in Estonia.

The report stressed that such a decision is “inevitable and necessary from a military, political, and diplomatic point of view” and is driven by strong European pressure to support Warsaw after a drone crashed on Polish territory. “Rome cannot remain on the sidelines amid the efforts of other European partners, which have already been announced,” the newspaper added.

The Roman government is currently considering whether additional parliamentary approval is required for this move, or if it can be included within the broader package of international military operations, which undergoes formal approval by parliament each year.

By Nazrin Sadigova