BRUSSELS - NATO warplanes will fly training missions over the Baltic states this month in a show of solidarity with former Soviet republics concerned about Russia.
The March 17 exercises will involve French, Polish and Lithuanian aircraft, a NATO statement said on Tuesday.
The “defensive training” exercise will be “a demonstration of NATO solidarity and commitment to its member countries in the Baltic Region”, the statement said.
The announcement of the exercises follows France’s plan to sell warships to Russia, a move which has raised concern in the former Soviet republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
The three, now all NATO members, fear the deal could affect their security, given Russia’s 2008 intervention in Georgia, a country that has been promised eventual NATO membership.
France has defended its plans, saying it is important to build relations with Russia — something NATO as an alliance is seeking to do to improve cooperation on global security issues.
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