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At the moment, Latvia is spending approximately EUR 1 million for the policing mission annually. However, the budget of the air-policing mission has risen considerably in recent months, as NATO members have sent additional fighters to the region in reaction to the tensions in Ukraine.

''We will have additional fighters patrolling Baltic skies, as the situation in the region has not changed for the better. Thus, we are planning to increase our payments to maintain the expanded air-policing mission, which will cost us about EUR 3 million annually. We must also understand that this does not cover all of the costs, because many countries who participate in the Baltic air-policing mission cover their own costs. Overall, this will be EUR 9 million, which the three Baltic countries will contribute to the mission,'' Vejonis pointed out.

The defense minister also reminded that there has been a substantial increase in the number of times NATO fighters have taken to the skies to observe unidentified Russian aircraft near Baltic borders.