Romania, Bulgaria, Spain sign trilateral NATO air policing agreement

Romania, Bulgaria, and Spain have formalized a trilateral technical agreement to bolster NATO's airspace protection capabilities. Signed under Article 12 of a 2021 agreement between Bulgaria and Romania, the accord allows fighter aircraft from a third NATO member state to participate in cross-border air policing operations.

Under this new framework, Spain's declared forces will be able to conduct air patrol missions within Romania's airspace, where they are currently deployed. If necessary, these missions can extend to Bulgarian airspace as well. This integration is part of NATO's broader strategy to ensure the security of airspaces for countries situated on the alliance's Eastern Flank.

The agreement enhances air and missile defense cooperation among allies and strengthens collective defense capacities. It follows closely on the heels of Spain's recent rotation in NATO's Air Policing mission in Romania. At the end of July, a contingent of Spanish Air and Space Force personnel, comprising seven F-18M Hornet aircraft, three NH-90 helicopters, and approximately 180 military personnel, arrived at Romania's 86th Air Base Borcea.