“The Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states is one of the best examples of NATO unity, it demonstrates the unmistakable strength of commitment to Alliance security. We are deeply grateful to Italy for its Air Force standing ready to carry out the Air Policing Mission in the Baltic regions as scheduled despite the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In our turn, we work hard to provide the best possible conditions to our allies conducting the air policing mission from the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai,” Vice Minister Eimutis Misiūnas said.
The guests established connections with the Lithuanian Air Force leadership and toured infrastructure of the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai as the bilateral cooperation between the Air Forces is strengthened. Italy will be in charge of safeguarding the Baltic skies for two consecutive rotations, 8 months in total, starting September 2020.
The Italian Air Force delegation also paid a visit to the Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and met with Chief of the Defence Staff Maj Gen Gintautas Zenkevičius.
Last time an Italian Air Force Detachment was deployed to carry out the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states was in 2015. Italy ran two rotations in a row protecting the skies over Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia with 4 Eurofighter Typhoons. In 2018 Italy carried out the mission from Amari Air Base in Estonia.
Even though Lithuania and Italy are separated by a considerable geographical distance, the countries’ armed forces are significantly different in size, weaponry and equipment, and even face slightly different security challenges, the cooperation between the militaries has been carried out in different forms and scopes for over 20 years.
Defence cooperation between Lithuania and Italy grew stronger when Italy joined the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence and the NATO Force Integration Unit in 2014, the country delegates one officer to the staff of the latter.
Lithuania has been taking part in the European Union Naval Force in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED/Sophia) targeting smuggling and migrant trafficking in the Mediterranean since 2015. One Lithuanian officer currently serves at the operational HQ in Rome, Italy.
One of the largest examples of cooperation between Lithuania and Italy in defence area is the procurement of C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft from Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A. The Italian Armed Forces is contributing to qualification updating of crews and sustainment personnel and helps Lithuania train fighter aircraft operation officers to this day.
