The rotation ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas, Commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Commander Allied Air Component in Ramstein General Franc Gorenc, Commander of the Lithuanian Air Force Major General Edvardas Mažeikis, Ambassador of the United States in Lithuania Deborah McCarthy, Ambassador of Poland in Lithuania Jaroslaw Czubinski, Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Lithuania David Hunt, representatives from Denmark, Estonia, the city of Šiauliai, and others.
Poland will contribute to the security of the Baltic airspace for the fifth time. The majority of the incoming rotation consisting of nearly 100 members - pilots, technical and medical personnel, support teams, communications and other specialists, will deploy from their home base in Malbork.
The United Kingdom which will support this rotation will take part in the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission for the second time. The British personnel numbering approximately 140 will deploy from their permanent base in Leeming, Yorkshire.
The outgoing U.S. Air Component began their tour of duty on January 1, 2014, with four F-15 C Eagle fighter aircraft. It was augmented by six more F-15 C Eagles and personnel as a result of NATO’s decision to enhance the Baltic Air Policing Mission and U.S. demonstration of its continued commitment to European security and solidarity with other NATO allies in light of the situation in Ukraine. The mission personnel totalled approximately 160.
A decade-long NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission is more than a security assurance; it is also an excellent example of commitment to collective defence. 14 NATO allies provided 34 rotations of air capabilities to patrol the Baltic airspace over the span of the mission to ensure Lithuania’s security. In its turn, Lithuania is fully prepared to render all host nation support required to the contributed air contingents.
Another four aircraft, F-16 fighter jets of the Danish Air Force will strengthen the security of the Baltic airspace by patrolling from the Amari Air Base of the Estonian Air Force as of May 1.
kam.lt
