DIRECTOR OF THE TRANSATLANTIC COOPERATION AND SECURITY POLICY DEPARTMENT ATTENDS A CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY OF AIR CONTINGENTS CONDUCTING NATO’S BALTIC AIR POLICING MISSION
On 3 January, the Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Transatlantic Cooperation and Security Policy Department Šarūnas Adomavičius attended a Change of Command ceremony, which acknowledged the transfer of the Baltic air policing mission from the Belgian Air Force to the U.S. Air Force, thanked the Belgian troops for completing their mission, and welcomed the air personnel of the United States of America.
During the ceremony at Šiauliai Air Base, the participants underlined that NATO’s Baltic air policing mission had set an example of great solidarity of NATO Member countries and of Smart Defence. The Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Juozas Olekas, representatives of the Air Forces of Belgium, the United States, and Lithuania also attended the event.
The U.S. Air Force takes part in the NATO air policing mission for the fourth time. The U.S. air personnel will operate four F-15 C Eagle fighter-jets. The150-strong U.S. contingent includes troops and specialists, who have arrived from their home base in the United Kingdom.
NATO’s Baltic air policing mission which maintains sovereign airspace of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia marks its 10th anniversary in 2014. Fourteen NATO Member countries have already taken part in the Baltic air policing mission.
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