Starting in September, the Netherlands and Norway will begin joint patrols of NATO airspace over Poland to deter Russia and ensure the security of supply routes to Ukraine, according to Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans. The announcement was made via his X (formerly Twitter) account.
According to Brekelmans, the participation of Dutch F-35 fighter jets in guarding the Alliance’s eastern flank is aimed at protecting the interests of the Netherlands and its allies. He emphasized that the Netherlands is thus contributing to strengthening NATO’s defense and regional stability.
In addition, Brekelmans announced that the Netherlands and Poland have signed an agreement to deepen military cooperation. The agreement includes increasing the number of joint exercises, strengthening air defense, and developing partnerships in the defense industry.
Norway’s Ministry of Defense had earlier confirmed, on June 30, that it would also deploy F-35 fighter jets to Poland. The Norwegian Air Force’s mission will be to maintain security around the Rzeszów-Jasionka airport and in Polish airspace more broadly. Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik emphasized that these measures are intended to support both Poland and Ukraine and are in line with Norway’s commitments under the Alliance.
Against this backdrop, Brekelmans recalled that the Netherlands recently completed the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and continues to train Ukrainian pilots and technical personnel. The country is also sharing its military doctrines with Kyiv. According to the minister, allies must continue to provide Ukraine with maximum support.
The Netherlands was one of the first countries to agree to deliver F-16s to Ukraine. The decision came as the Dutch military transitions to the more modern F-35. Ukraine received its first aircraft in July of last year. Similar pledges were made by Denmark, Belgium, and Norway. However, in March 2025, Belgium announced that it was postponing the transfer of jets until 2026 due to a shortage of spare parts and pilots.
