The Turkish Air Force has officially taken over NATO's Enhanced Air Policing mission in Estonia. According to a statement from Turkey's Ministry of National Defense, the 181st Squadron Command has been deployed to Ämari Air Base as part of this mission.
The statement noted that the squadron arrived at Ämari Base at the end of July, conducted reconnaissance flights to familiarize itself with the area of operations, and completed its preparations with scheduled briefings.
The handover ceremony held in Estonia was attended by NATO Representative Colonel Keith De Makki, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, Portuguese Defense Minister João Nuno de Lacerda Teixeira de Melo, Turkey's Ambassador to Tallinn Başak Türkoğlu, and Turkish Air Force personnel.
The ministry announced that as of the morning of August 1, the Turkish squadron officially assumed NATO's 72nd block Enhanced Air Policing mission and will conduct 24/7 alert and response watches, as well as joint missions with NATO and Estonian air forces.
Turkey's Ministry of National Defense also released footage of the handover ceremony at the base.