Finnish air forces train alongside NATO in Estonia

Record ID: 1717667

  • Title: Finnish air forces train alongside NATO in Estonia
  • Date: 29th March 2023
  • Summary: AMARI, ESTONIA (MARCH 29, 2023) (REUTERS) FINNISH F/A-18 HORNET FIGHTER JET TAXIING PILOT WAVING OFF F/A-18 HORNET FIGHTER JETS ON TARMAC VARIOUS OF FINNISH F/A-18 HORNET FIGHTERS TAKING OFF (SOUNDBITE) (English) FINLAND'S AMBASSADOR TO ESTONIA, VESA VASARA, SAYING: “We are very pleased that the final ratification for Finland's membership seem to be in the pipeline within these days I hope. It is important at the same time to underline that our NATO membership will only be complete when Sweden also joins the alliance.” VARIOUS OF F/A-18 HORNET FIGHTERS ON TARMAC BRITISH TYPHOON FIGHTER PARKED FOR REFUELLING VARIOUS OF BRITISH SOLDIERS REFUELLING TYPHOON FIGHTER JET VARIOUS OF TYPHOON FIGHTER JET MAINTENANCE VARIOUS OF TYPHOON FIGHTER JET TOWED AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMANDER OF BRITISH DETACHMENT, SCOTT MACCOLL, SAYING: “Today, we're really excited to work with future allies. The four Finnish F-18s landed here have been conducting planning with our crews as part of that exercise that will also see U.S., French, Netherlands (Dutch) and Estonian aircraft.” VARIOUS OF FIGHTER JETS ON TARMAC TAGS ATTACHED TO JET FLYING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO ESTONIA, ROSS ALLEN, SAYING: “But the message today really is about three things. First of all, interoperability, learning how to do more together. And also the cohesion. Cohesion among allies, partners and so on. And finally, deterrence and our commitment jointly to defend Estonia, to defend NATO and to defend Europe.” FIGHTER JETS LEAVING HANGAR PILOT SHAKING FINGERS INSIDE COCKPIT GERMAN EUROFIGHTER JET TAXIING (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO ESTONIA, ANETTE KLEIN, SAYING: “The capabilities of the Finnish Air Force do not need elaboration, and we are looking forward to welcome Finland as a NATO ally in the very near future and hopefully the Swedes also before Vilnius.” VARIOUS OF GERMAN EUROFIGHTERS TAKING OFF
  • Embargoed: 12th April 2023 14:13
  • Keywords: Amari Estonia Finland NATO air defence fighter jets
  • Location: AMARI, ESTONIA
  • City: AMARI, ESTONIA
  • Country: Estonia
  • Topics: Europe,NATO,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001122529032023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Finnish aircraft took part in NATO exercises in Estonia on Wednesday (March 29) alongside French, Dutch and Estonian fighter jets.
    The Finnish F/A-18 jets visited the Amari air base - home to NATO's Baltic Air Policing detachments - for the first time since 2019.
    Finland's ambassador in Estonia, said he was please with Hungary ratifying Helsinki's membership into the Alliance.
    “It is important at the same time to underline that our NATO membership will only be complete when Sweden also joins the alliance," Vesa Vasara said.
    Hungary's parliament approved a bill on Monday (March 27) to allow Finland to join NATO once its application has been ratified by all 30 members of the alliance, ending months of foot-dragging by the ruling Fidesz party on the matter.
    Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said last week that Turkey's parliament would also start ratifying Finland's accession.
    But it also held off approving Sweden's bid.
    NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said he had urged Turkey and Hungary to ratify both applications.
    A vote on Sweden's bid has not yet been scheduled in Budapest.
    (Production Janis Laizans, Hedy Beloucif)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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