British Air Force Holds Air Patrol During European Council Peak Summit May 16-17 In Iceland

Illustration of the British F-35 RAF fighter jet took off from HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08). (Wikimedia Commons/US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan T. Beard)

JAKARTA - The Icelandic government said on Sunday, a squadron of the British Air Force will patrol the Nordic country's skies this week, when leaders from across Europe will meet in Reykjavik to discuss the security of the Blue Continent to support Ukraine.

The airspace protection agreement signed by the two countries in force on May 15-19, will provide security before, during, and after a Council of Europe meeting or the European Council belonging to the European Union, red), the continent's leading human rights watchdog, which will be held in Iceland on May 16 and 17, reported by Reuters May 15.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is among the government leaders expected to attend the 46-member council meeting.

Meanwhile, Russia in March last year left the group, preventing evictions that are expected to occur due to an invasion of its neighboring Ukrainian country.

The meeting will be the biggest international event held in Iceland, according to the government.

It is known that this island nation, which is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, has a population of less than 400,000 people, does not have its own armed forces or air force.

Airspace security arrangements are made in coordination with the wider NATO alliance, where Iceland and Britain are members, the Icelandic Foreign Ministry said in a statement.