Germany to Deploy Eurofighter Jets to Latvia for Parliamentary Elections

Latvian authorities requested allied assistance to guarantee the secure conduct of the parliamentary election, driven by mounting anxieties over unidentified and foreign unmanned aerial vehicles drifting across Baltic borders. The German Federal Ministry of Defense (BMVg) confirmed that four Eurofighters from Tactical Air Wing 74, based in Neuburg an der Donau, will station in central Latvia for about a week. According to the German Federal Ministry of Defense, the Latvian government asked allies for air defense support to ensure the election could be held safely, citing repeated drone violations of airspace over the Baltic states in recent weeks and months. The ministry stated that Germany stands reliably by the side of its allies that are particularly exposed on the eastern flank.

Bundeswehr Deployment at Lielvārde Air Base

The German detachment comprises a small contingent numbering in the mid-double digits, reinforced by specialists from other German Air Force units and other branches of the Bundeswehr. Several dozen German personnel and technicians will arrive at Lielvārde Air Base to maintain the aircraft during the mission. While standard NATO air policing rotations run for about four months, this deployment is intentionally short-term, timed explicitly to cover the critical electoral window around the October 3 parliamentary vote.

The German defense ministry noted that the deployment will form part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing North Mission, integrated into the alliance’s integrated air and missile defense system. The deployment of German fighters to Latvia will simultaneously test NATO’s ability to rapidly redeploy and host allied forces, as well as the readiness of the National Armed Forces’ Lielvārde military base to receive and support allied air forces.

Spillover Risks and Recent Drone Incursions Across the Baltics

The electoral security measures arrive against a backdrop of escalating aerial breaches tied directly to the war in Ukraine. Germany’s defense ministry confirmed that the deployment is a precautionary measure in response to heightened security concerns due to repeated drone incursions into NATO airspace, reportedly linked to Russian electronic warfare activities stemming from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. EU members have repeatedly warned that Russia’s war may spill beyond Ukraine’s borders, particularly as Russia increases its hybrid attacks and sabotage campaigns on Ukraine’s Western allies.

The region has already experienced physical kinetic intercepts this year. NATO fighters have destroyed two drones over Latvia in 2026. A French Rafale shot down a drone over the Latgale region on June 8, and allied jets downed another near Rugāji in Balvi Municipality on August 14, 2026. In both cases, Latvia’s National Armed Forces responded to the aerial threats.

Broader Allied Coordination With Italy and Turkey

Germany is not acting in isolation. At the same time, Italy—whose contingent currently leads the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania—has also responded to Latvia’s request and will undertake additional commitments to strengthen the defense of Latvian airspace.

Fighter jets from the Turkish Air Force, deployed to Ämari Air Base in Estonia as part of the NATO air policing mission, will also participate in strengthening Latvia’s airspace defense. In addition to their primary tasks within the NATO mission, the Turkish fighters will provide an additional contribution to the defense of Latvian airspace. The Turkish Air Force is currently carrying out missions at the Ämari base with F-16 fighter jets.

The contributions of Germany, Italy, and Turkey demonstrate NATO allied solidarity and the capability to respond swiftly to the security needs of member states, while simultaneously strengthening the alliance’s collective defense and the security of NATO’s eastern flank.