Dutch F16 fighters on the way to Ukraine
reported by Mehr News Agency quoted by Rashatudi, Dutch Defense Minister Kaisa Ollongren announced in a letter to the country’s parliament that the F-16 fighter jets will be delivered to Ukraine soon.
Olongen said that the necessary authorization to send military equipment to Ukraine had been issued, but declined to provide details of the delivery of the equipment. He also added that the Dutch Parliament will be kept informed of the progress of the affairs confidentially at the appropriate time.
The said letter states: On behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Trade and Cooperation Development, I am informing you that the first shipment of fighters will be delivered (Ukraine) soon.
Arno Stallman, the commander of the Dutch Air Force, has announced that he expects the F-16 fighters to enter the operational phase in Ukraine by this summer. In May, Belgium also committed to deliver 30 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine by 2028 and will start this process from the end of this year.
However, this country has banned the use of these fighters to attack Russian territory, but the Netherlands has not applied such a ban. Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway have committed to providing Ukraine with about 80 US-made F-16s, which is equivalent to about three fighter squadrons.
Since the beginning of the country’s war with Russia in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly asked his supporters to send fighters to Kiev, citing Russia’s air power. provide F-16; A request that has not yet been practically fulfilled and was as much as promised!
Despite originally planned, delivery of F-16s to Ukraine was delayed due to logistical and training challenges. According to a Ukrainian Air Force official, some of these fighters are likely to be kept at secure bases outside Ukraine to protect them from a possible Russian attack. Russia has emphasized that the countries where these fighters are kept will also be “legitimate” targets for the Moscow army.
Olungren’s tenure at the Dutch Ministry of Defense has now ended and the transfer of power to Prime Minister Dick Schoof and his cabinet will take place today. The new Dutch government was formed after months of coalition negotiations after the November elections last year.
Dutch domestic media have written that the transfer of power is not expected to have an impact on the country’s policy towards Ukraine, as the coalition agreement between the country’s four centrist and right-wing parties, the commitment to continue It includes support for Ukraine.
