The Czech Republic and Poland have reached an agreement to protect the airspace of neighboring Slovakia, as Bratislava will give up the use of MiG-29 fighter jets at the end of this month.

This defense agreement signed on August 27 is expected to be in force until Slovakia – a NATO member state – accepts the delivery of F-16 aircraft from the United States.

Shipments by US aircraft are expected to arrive in 2024.

Poland's Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, Czech Republic's Jana Cernochova and Slovakia's Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad signed the agreement at an air base in Slovakia.

"Polish warplanes will take off from the base stationed on Polish territory.

Czech aircraft will also provide air defense from the base located on the territory of the Czech Republic and will return to their permanent bases as soon as they complete the mission," said a spokeswoman for the Slovak Defense Ministry.

Minister Nad said last month that Slovakia could consider giving its fleet of MiG-29s - Soviet-made jets - to Ukraine in a possible exchange for other planes, as Kiev continues to fight the Russian break. .

Slovakia's MiG-29 fleet is believed to be worth $300 million.

Since Russia launched the war, Ukraine - which is not a member of NATO - has called on Western allies to donate fighter jets to counter the Russian air force.

/REL/