Romanian, Bulgarian, Spanish air forces sign air policing agreement

The air forces of Bulgaria, Romania and Spain have signed a trilateral technical agreement to carry out cross-border operations to protect the Nato Alliance’s airspace, Bulgaria’s Defence Ministry said on August 6.

The agreement was signed on the basis of Article 12 of the Agreement between the government of Bulgaria and the government of Romania from 2021 and creates the opportunity for inclusion in cross-border Air Policing operations by on-duty fighter jets of a third country, in this case Spain, the Defence Ministry said.

Within the framework of the Nato Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS), the declared forces of Spain will be able to perform air patrol tasks in the airspace of Romania, where they are currently deployed, and in Bulgarian airspace if necessary, the ministry said.

The Defence Ministry said that the implementation of joint Air Policing missions with other Nato member states is part of the Alliance’s mechanisms for ensuring the air security of the countries on the Eastern Flank.

It contributes to deepening cooperation in the field of air and missile defence between the Allies and to enhancing collective defence capabilities, the ministry said.

(Archive photo: Bulgarian Ministry of Defence)