NATO fighter jets escort Russian aircraft 12 times over Lithuania in March

NATO fighter jets stationed at Lithuania’s Zokniai airbase have escorted Russian military aircraft 12 times in March, according to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

The ministry noted that NATO’s rotational air patrols took to the skies between three and five times per week throughout the month, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The NATO air policing mission at Zokniai, which has been active since 2004, sees a rotation of aircraft and personnel from various member states.

Since July 30, 2024, the Italian Air Force, with four Eurofighter Typhoon jets, and the French Air Force, with four Rafale fighters, have been stationed at the base. However, on March 31, this contingent was replaced by pilots from the Polish and Romanian Air Forces, who are now operating eight F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The primary purpose of these air patrols is routine airspace monitoring and control in the skies above the Baltic States, which do not have their own air defense capability. NATO fighter jets routinely escort Russian military aircraft to ensure that flights comply with international airspace rules.

This procedure is in line with NATO's mission to safeguard the airspace of its member countries. It is also a part of a broader effort to monitor Russian activity near the Baltic States’ borders. The Lithuanian Defense Ministry emphasized that NATO forces have conducted similar escort missions in previous months — 11 times in January and 9 times in February.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has consistently maintained that flights of Russian military aircraft to and from the Kaliningrad region occur over neutral waters and are in full compliance with international regulations.

The Baltic States have relied on NATO’s rotational air policing since 2004 to safeguard their skies, particularly after joining the alliance. In addition to the operation at Zokniai, NATO also stationed another part of the mission at Estonia’s Emari Air Base starting in 2014.