Netherlands Consults with Americans on F-16s for Ukraine, Wants to Allow Their Use Across the Border

6 comments

1. *Full text, English translation by GPT-4o:*

   ### Permission Needed

   **Netherlands Consults with Americans on F-16s for Ukraine**

   *Written by RTL Nieuws*

   The Netherlands is consulting with the United States regarding the deployment of F-16s by Ukraine, according to acting Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot. Ukraine might be able to deploy them as early as June. Ukraine, like with other Western weapons, wishes to use them against targets across the border, but the US remains hesitant. American permission is required because the F-16s are manufactured there.

   **US Allows Ukraine to Use Weapons Against Targets in Russia**

   “We are still in intensive discussions with the American government to make all F-16s available,” said Bruins Slot when asked if the Americans still need to approve. The Netherlands, the US, Denmark, and Belgium are part of a coalition of countries aiming to provide Ukraine with combat aircraft.

   **Belgian Resistance**

   The Netherlands and Denmark want to allow Ukraine to use them across the border, but Belgium has opposed this. The issue is a key topic of discussion at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague.

   Without US approval, it cannot happen, say NATO diplomats. Washington will grant permission for the use of their weapons on Russian territory but will impose various restrictions, report American media.

   **Ukraine Nearly Has Long-Awaited F-16s: ‘Fighter Jets are Vital’**

   The Ukrainian military is eager to use the F-16s. The aircraft can significantly enhance the safety of Ukrainian airspace, in conjunction with other forms of air defense such as the Patriot systems.

   “The F-16 is particularly suited for intercepting large numbers of cruise missiles,” said defense expert Peter Wijninga of the Hague Center for Strategic Studies (HCSS) to RTL Nieuws this week. Over the past two years, Russia has fired hundreds of cruise missiles at Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

2. No issues with Israel attacking Iran with F-35, but god forbid Ukraine acting aggressively towards Russia

3. This proves Macron right. Europe not only need to invest more in our militaries but we need to invest in European made arms.

   Now we are lucky to have a ‘friendly’ president in the White House. We have no idea of what kind of craziness the American public is willing to vote for in the coming decades.

   The US president having veto power on how Europe can use its assets is a major liability.

4. Ofcourse they need to be used freely.
   The aggressor needs to be defeated. We’re not looking for the Ukrainians to suffer needlessly, unlike the Americans which seem so reluctant.

5. I know it’s frustrating but the US is towing a fine line. There is a chance of the US being pulled into war with Russia, China and Iran. As much as you guys dont want to admit it, we would be carrying the weight for the first year until Europe adapts. 

6. I’m still wondering why rely on f-16s only which require american approval on how they are used, when other nato countries can give their own manufactured fighter aircraft like the eurofighter, rafales, gripen, etc?