The German Air Force has concluded its deployment of Eurofighter jets at the Malbork base in northern Poland, withdrawing around 150 Bundeswehr personnel. The mission, part of NATO's Enhanced Air Policing initiative, was designed to strengthen the alliance’s eastern flank amid increasing Russian airspace violations.
Incidents over the Baltic Sea and Baltic states have surged, with Russian Su-30SM fighters repeatedly entering allied airspace-most recently a Su-30SM penetrating Estonian airspace on 18 March. In response, NATO activated air policing missions, with Italian F-35s intercepting the aircraft.
NATO reported over 300 scramble launches in 2023 alone to counter Russian aerial incursions. The departure of German forces raises questions about who will assume responsibility for maintaining air defense posture in the region.