NATO to cut Baltic air patrols by half

[unhappycamper]

http://www.dw.com/en/nato-to-cut-baltic-air-patrols-by-half/a-18628128

NATO said on Tuesday that beginning in September it would be reducing the amount of air patrols in its Baltic mission, used to deter Russian aggression against NATO members Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

NATO to cut Baltic air patrols by half
04.08.2015

"As of the 1st of September NATO will have eight aircraft assigned to the Baltic air policing mission," said NATO spokesperson Carmen Romero, reported DPA news agency.

NATO member states have increased the number of aircraft patrolling the Baltic area following escalating tensions between Russia and the West over the conflict in Ukraine.

"This is still double the number we had before the start of the Russia-Ukraine crisis," Romero said.

"Prior to the crisis, the mission normally had four aircraft for each rotation, all based at Siauliai air base in Lithuania," Romero noted.

[KoKo]

1. A bit of a de-escalation is wise...

or the monetary costs to NATO were too high to sustain.

[independentpiney]

2. Or it could be both

De-escalation is definitely wise, and the costs of doubling the flights had to be have been outside the NATO budget.

[unhappycamper]

3. Guess who pays for 75% of all NATO costs?

Yea, I was surprised also.