Dutch king visits Ämari air base

TALLINN – King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands visited the Royal Netherlands Air Force participating in the Baltic air policing mission at the Ämari air base in northwestern Estonia on Thursday.

The king, who arrived at the air base by plane, was met by F-35 fighter jets from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, which are participating in the Baltic air policing mission. The Dutch arrived at the Ämari air base at the end of last year.

Estonian Ambassador to the Netherlands Paul Teesalu, who welcomed the king in Ämari, said that the participation of the Netherlands in the Baltic air policing mission increases the security of both the region and the entire alliance more broadly.

"The more complex the security situation, the more important the visible presence of allies in our region," Teesalu said. "The participation of the Netherlands in protecting Estonian airspace confirms the good relations between our countries, as well as the allies' common understanding of the importance of collective defense."