The Norwegian Ministry of Defense announced on June 30 that, in response to recent frequent sightings of Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea, it will deploy F-35A fighters to the Polish airport in Rzeszów this fall. This move aims to bolster NATO's eastern defense capabilities and secure logistics bases for military aid to Ukraine from potential Russian threats.

Reports indicate that Russian military aircraft have exhibited provocative behavior, with incidents such as a Russian Su-24 fighter engaging in dangerous flying on the evening of May 22, which prompted the Polish Air Force to scramble interceptors. Moreover, on June 27, another Russian IL-20M reconnaissance plane took off from Kaliningrad without activating its transponder and entered airspace between Poland and Germany, leading to a scramble by the German Air Force's two Eurofighter jets.

Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram emphasized that sending F-35A fighters will enhance situational awareness and joint operational capabilities to effectively respond to Russian threats. This decision sends a clear signal to Russia that the West is committed to ensuring the safety of its support operations for Ukraine. Concurrently, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans to send naval vessels to patrol the North Atlantic and Arctic regions by the end of the year, including a stop in Greenland and a joint exercise with Canada, reinforcing Germany's military presence to counter potential Russian influence in the region.