Estonia's defence minister Herem discusses ties with Türkiye's ambassador to Tallinn Özçeri

Estonian Defence Minister Martin Herem met with Türkiye's Ambassador to Tallinn Havva Yonca Gündüz Özçeri to discuss defence cooperation between the two countries. Estonia highlighted the contribution of Turkish F-16s stationed at Ämari Air Base to NATO's Baltic air defence.

Estonian Defence Minister Martin Herem met with Türkiye's Ambassador to Tallinn Havva Yonca Gündüz Özçeri. The Estonian Defence Ministry said in a post on November 2 that the meeting addressed defence cooperation between the two countries.

The ministry said Turkish F-16s stationed at Ämari Air Base contribute to NATO's air defence in the Baltic region, Turkish-made armoured vehicles serve in the Estonian Defence Forces, and defence industry cooperation between the two countries continues to grow. The statement said, "Our close ties are based on trust and a shared commitment to trust and security."

Minister Herem and Ambassador Özçeri shake hands in front of a map of Estonia

Turkish F-16s patrol the Baltic skies

The Turkish Air Force has been operating five F-16s and 76 personnel at Ämari Air Base in Estonia since August 2026 as part of NATO's Baltic air defence mission. The unit from the 181st Squadron in Diyarbakır protects the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which do not have their own fighter aircraft, through 24/7 rapid-reaction duty. After the rotation is completed at the end of November, the Turkish F-16s are expected to undertake a similar mission in Romania from December.

In October 2023, Estonia signed an agreement with Turkish defence companies Otokar and Nurol Makina to purchase approximately 230 wheeled armoured vehicles. Deliveries of Otokar's ARMA 6x6 armoured personnel carriers and Nurol Makina's NMS 4x4 vehicles began in the second half of 2024.

Photo: Estonian Defence Ministry