France, Romania to replace Spain in NATO Baltic Air Policing mission

NATO’s Baltic air policing mission is undergoing a rotation, with Spain handing over responsibility to France, supported by Romania, in a coordinated shift aimed at maintaining continuous protection of Allied airspace over the region.

The changeover ceremony is taking place at the Šiauliai air base in Šiauliai, where French Air Force personnel are deploying with four Dassault Rafale fighter jets to assume duties previously carried out by Spanish Royal Air Force units operating F-18 Hornets, LRT reports.

The mission transition is being conducted under the framework of NATO’s ongoing air policing operations in the Baltic states.

According to Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence, around 200 personnel were involved in the Spanish deployment, including pilots, maintenance crews, medical staff, communications specialists and logistical support teams.

During their rotation, the contingent also engaged in community outreach, hosting school visits, participating in local events, and supporting social care initiatives in the Šiauliai region.

Reinforcements are arriving alongside the French detachment, with a Romanian Air Force unit deploying six F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to Lithuania as part of the broader mission. France will be participating in NATO Baltic air policing for the ninth time, while Romania will be taking part for the fourth time, underscoring the rotational nature of Allied commitments in the region.

The handover ceremony is expected to be attended by Deputy Minister of National Defence Vitalija Zumerienė, NATO Air Command representatives, ambassadors from participating countries, as well as officials from local authorities and institutions.

NATO’s Baltic air policing mission, conducted from bases in Lithuania and Estonia, ensures the integrity of Allied airspace in a region that does not maintain its own permanent combat air patrol capabilities, relying instead on rotating contributions from member states.

By Aghakazim Guliyev