Italy to Lead NATO Air Policing Mission in Baltic States

Italian Air Force personnel are set to assume responsibility for the NATO air policing mission in the Baltic states, taking over from French and Romanian forces. This deployment signifies Italy's eighth contribution to safeguarding the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

For the past four months, French fighter jets, specifically four Rafale aircraft, have been patrolling the Baltic skies. This contingent comprised approximately 110 personnel, including pilots, technicians, medical staff, and support specialists. As an additional contingent, Romania's air force also participated, deploying six F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to secure the region's airspace. Their mission involved around 100 military personnel, also encompassing pilots, technicians, medical staff, and support teams.

The departing French and Romanian units responded to incidents involving drones that violated Baltic airspace. Romanian F-16s were scrambled in response to an incident over Estonian territory, while French aircraft were deployed following a similar violation within Latvian airspace. The transition signifies a continued commitment to collective security within the NATO framework.