“The rotation between French and Dutch air contingents taking place in Šiauliai Air Base today once again demonstrates the unified NATO efforts to guard Baltic skies, while NATO air policing mission is a practical example of Alliance solidarity and unity,” Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis in his remarks.
Minister R. Karoblis thanked the outgoing French rotation who have been protecting the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Estonia with four Mirage 2000 fighters for service. “The contribution of the whole French team – its commanders, pilots and all team members – is invaluable and vital for people of Lithuania and the entire Baltic region,” Minister R.Karoblis thanked the French airmen.
Aside from their main mission, the French soldiers also trained together with Lithuanian Air Force counterparts, shared experience and knowledge with Air Force Base personnel, held community events in Šiauliai town, visited Special Care Baby Home, hosted school and student excursions.
The Minister of National Defence welcomed the Royal Netherlands Air Force detachment back in Lithuania. This is its third deployment to the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission (the first one took place in 2005 in Šiauliai, the other one in 2014 in Malbork, Poland).
“The new rotation is extraordinary for that the leading Dutch jets, which will be reinforced by the German ones from Estonia, will be responsible for the guarding airspace above the Allied troops on the ground and in the sea, including the Dutch troops that will be deployed under German-led multinational battalion already in March,” Minister R. Karoblis.
The majority of the roughly 120 airmen of different specialisations of the Royal Netherlands Air Force detachment are deployed from Leeuwarden and Vokel airbases in Germany.
The changeover ceremony was also attended by acting Chief of Defence of Lithuania, Chief of the Joint Staff Major General Vitalijus Vaikšnoras, Commander of the French Air Defence and Air Operations Command Lieutenant General Olivier Taprest, Commander of NATO Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem Major General Thiery Dupont, representatives of Šiauliai town council, and other guests.
Augmentation of the Air Policing Mission deployed in Amari Air Base (Estonia), a German air contingent with Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, will stay for the second consecutive rotation.
The NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic states was launched in March 2004 upon the NATO accession of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. To date, 17 NATO allies have deployed air capabilities to conduct the mission, the 43rd rotation of which since 2004 is now going to be carried out by the Dutch air contingent.
