Nowhere is Russia, Europe is as close as in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Making the Baltic States nervous. The presence of NATO encouraged the Baltic members – and gives the Bundeswehr a new self-awareness.
From the Cry of the shrill siren to the depths of thunder hall, the two Eurofighter stand out in succession, it will take 15 minutes. Then Hannes and his comrades with an approximately 60-degree steep Start can drive in heavy snow in the gray clouds disappear, which hangs to this day above the Leenubaas Air Base in the Estonian Ämari. During the stand-by on duty captain Hannes (editor’s note.d.Editors: last name, not named for security reasons) in Ämari, operating out of waiting, took off two more Jets to the “Tango Scramble”. The exercise is called the alarm of NATO, with which the German pilots to simulate twice daily reconnaissance flights in international airspace over the Baltic sea.
Trust in friend and possible enemy
In order not to lose in the dense fog, the connection to each other, to fly the two armed Jets, sometimes with only one Meter distance between both wing-tips. For these flights, the “Baltic Air Policing”Mission, there needs to be trust in the comrades from the local air force squadron, and the Estonian colleagues from around 40 kilometres from Estonia’s capital, Tallinn remote NATO base.
In the air, but Hannes was the case of the pilots whose machines trigger the alert in the Baltic air space: Russian fighter jets who have turned off their radar transponders or not a route registered, and, therefore, of Hannes, according to the NATO order must be identified.
So far he had experienced no critical situations. “There are all friendly, waving to each other, make photos,” he says of the machine, the meet him. His first photo of a plane shot Hannes from the Cockpit of the Eurojets, but only on this day. It’s an Airbus A400M, the own air force.
Estonia: “a Clear Signal to all that want to harm us”
One of the five Eurofighter, which are stationed in Estonia
On Board is also its chief commander: defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, the fly to Ämari, in order to assess together with their Estonian colleagues, the German air force in Estonia. “He is needed”, says von der Leyen, one of the five German Eurofighter. Since August 2018, the machines have been in approximately 30 different alarm situations. “You realize at this high number, that the presence is hugely important here.” The Estonian Minister of defence Jüri Luik to right next to her: “It is a clear Signal to all that want to harm us,” he says, and is even clearer: “We can’t change Russia’s behavior, but reduce the risk.” A desire of all the three Baltic States, the praise for the commitment of Germany to the two-day visit of the defense Minister, in Rukla, Lithuania.
“We can reduce the risk,” defense Minister von der Leyen and her Estonian colleague Jüri Luik
The density of the snow flakes dampen there the day before the March, as on the roll-call square of the Lithuanian barracks to parade a brass band of the German armed forces. Over 1000 European soldiers have gathered in sub-zero temperatures, there is a change in Command. The ceremonial Parade is a part of the marching with the Flag of the North Atlantic Treaty on the square, behind it, next to the flags of Germany and Lithuania, of the other Partner. For Lithuania, Germany currently has not only the command, but is also responsible for the framework plan. The around 500 German soldiers make up the majority of NATO troops in Rukla. It is the third largest foreign is now a contingent of the armed forces.
Not only the Baltic States are nervous
After the Ukraine crisis and the annexation of the Crimea by Russia, the NATO-reinforced members with combat troops, their presence in the Baltic States. And Russia is not only the Baltic States nervous: While Hannes is waiting in Ämari, in the neighbouring Poland is already a Team for an Alarm, took off. The international airspace over the Baltic sea is extremely tight. Only twenty miles wide, the flight path is, according to St. Petersburg from Finland from Estonia. Also in the South is a geographical bottleneck threatens: A roughly 100-Kilometer-wide border line between Poland and Lithuania, which separates the Russian enclave of white Russia. Geopolitical strategists fear that Russia could cut off in the event of an Invasion of the Baltic States from the European mainland.
NATO has changed, Germany
Such were the scenarios that motivated the Baltic States to join NATO 15 years ago. “Since then, it has changed the NATO”, says Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite at the Meeting with von der Leyen in Rukla. New times, new requirements – and the cost of money: Just two percent of their gross domestic income (GDP) to invest in the NATO-member States in their defence.
Ursula von der Leyen, and Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite at the handing-over appeal in the NATO barracks in Rukla
But Germany is struggling with. In the Baltics, the NATO, the end of the world-promise to Reports from Berlin, and defend: the Federal Finance Minister, Olaf Scholz, prior to budget deficits, the target of 1.5 percent of GDP for the defence budget until 2024 unrealistic warns.
“It’s not just the two percent,” defended by the Leyen in Tallinn, the commitment of NATO to the demands of the United States. Also on the denunciation of the INF disarmament Treaty of Berlin reacts aggressively and wants to put on further negotiations.
The Bundeswehr: praise abroad and scorn at home
While trust in Germany’s defence policy is growing abroad, threatens the German armed forces in the country, the image of a crisis: in addition to studies on the acceptance of advantages and scandals in the army culture is the flight readiness of the air force disgraced recently increased, with several breakdowns of the government plane. In the Baltic States, the Airbus A400M can easily deal with the extreme weather conditions. Quite sure it was not in the army but For the case of a new breakdown, a second transport plane of the Leyens visit to the Baltic States, with the traveled as a precaution. Properly arrived in the role of a sovereign Defense of Germany is not in order.