Türkiye deploys advanced AWACS aircraft to Lithuania amid NATO buildup

Türkiye has sent an advanced AWACS radar plane to Lithuania, a move seen as a sign of NATO strengthening its defense in the Baltic region following allegations of Russian airspace violations.

According to Turkish officials who spoke to Bloomberg, Türkiye sent an airborne early warning and control system aircraft to Lithuania on Monday, capable of detecting low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles and other objects that ground radars cannot pick up.

The officials asked not to be identified as the information is not public. The mission will continue until Thursday.

This temporary deployment is considered a gesture of solidarity with other members of the NATO military alliance. The defense ministry declined to comment on the matter.

On Tuesday evening, Germany warned against the risks of shooting down Russian aircraft, while US President Donald Trump almost simultaneously indicated he was open to taking a more aggressive stance with the support of Poland and the Baltic states.

Speaking to France 24 from New York on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said that in the event of “new Russian provocations,” NATO should “go a step further,” but he also stated that it should not go as far as shooting down aircraft.

Estonia called for an emergency meeting at NATO and the United Nations Security Council this week after three Russian fighter jets allegedly remained in the Baltic country’s airspace for 12 minutes on Friday.

The incident occurred just a few weeks after alleged violations of Polish and Romanian airspace by Russian unmanned aerial vehicles. Military drones also allegedly crossed from Belarus into Lithuania in July.

In response to these violations, Italy also announced it was extending the deployment of its anti-aircraft system in Estonia. Sweden and Poland are launching a military exercise called “Gotland Sentry” to strengthen the defense of the strategic island in the Baltic Sea.