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NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states will be continued by Polish and Romanian air capabilities

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2025-03-31
International cooperation | Security and defense policy

On March 31 a Hand Over-Take Over ceremony took place at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai. After eight months and four months on duty of patrolling the Baltic airspace Italian and French airmen handed over the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states to Polish colleagues with four F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets and the reinforcement from the Romanian Air Force flying F-16 Fighting Falcon.

NATO Allies have been sending fighter aircraft, pilots and service personnel to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states to ensure security and integrity of the Alliance's airspace since the Baltic states joined NATO in March 2004.

"The NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states demonstrates clearly that the cornerstone of NATO, the principle of collective defence, works excellently. We are grateful to our Allies for contributing to this vital mission. Your presence is a critical factor of deterrence which strengthens our regional security fundamentally," Vice Minister of National Defence Karolis Aleksa.

Poland will be in charge of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states for the thirteenth time. The current rotation will include approx. 140 members: pilots, technicians, medical personnel, support teams, communications and other specialists.

The Romanian Air Force will be contributing to the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission for the third time. Their rotation will comprise approx. 110 different specialists.

NATO Allies began deploying air assets in protection of the Baltic states' airspace since the first day of NATO membership of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. It was agreed at the NATO Summit in Vilnius to strengthen the air posture by implementing the Rotational Air Defence Model. The Netherlands conducted training with the Patriot air and missile defense system in Lithuania last year, while Italy deployed the SAMP/T long-range ground-based air defence system this year.