Portugal and Romania took over the NATO Baltic air policing mission from Poland and France on Thursday, the Lithuanian Defence Ministry reported.
Portuguese and Romanian troops will patrol the Baltic skies with eight F-16 fighter jets.
Polish troops policed the Baltic airspace with four F-16 fighter jets. The mission involved approximately 150 Polish troops: pilots, technicians, medical personnel, support teams, communications and other specialists.
The French Air Force reinforced the mission with four Rafale fighter jets, which were sent to Lithuania for the first time, and approximately 100 troops.
Deputy Defence Minister Greta Monika Tučkutė attended the changeover ceremony at the Lithuanian Air Force base in Šiauliai. She said that Lithuania sought to strengthen air defence in the region due to the war in Ukraine.
NATO member countries have taken turns safeguarding Baltic airspace since Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined the alliance back in 2004.
The Baltic air-policing mission capabilities have been strengthened since 2014 in response to Russia’s military aggression.
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