Belgium Deployed F-16 Fighter Jets to Reinforce NATO Mission in Baltics

The Belgian Air Force has joined the air defense mission in the Baltic states by deploying its aircraft.

This was reported by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, according to LRT.

A contingent of about 100 Belgian military personnel and six F-16 fighter jets will reinforce the Italian contingent, which is already carrying out missions in the region.

A formal welcoming ceremony for the Belgian military personnel was held at the Lithuanian Air Force base in Šiauliai.

The event was attended by Lithuanian Air Force Commander Antanas Matutis, Italian Ambassador to Lithuania Emanuele de Maigret, and Šiauliai Vice Mayor Justinas Švegžda.

In July, at the NATO summit in Ankara, a decision was made to reorganize the Air Policing mission in Europe into a full-fledged Air Defense mission.

This decision expanded the Alliance’s military command’s authority to respond more swiftly and decisively to a wide range of threats — from manned aircraft and UAVs to cruise and ballistic missiles.

In late July, the Italian contingent, with four EF-2000 (Eurofighter Typhoon) fighter jets, began the first rotation of this updated mission in Lithuania.

Strengthening NATO’s airspace

Milulitarnyi previously reported that the Slovak Air Force will resume defending the country’s airspace on its own in the coming days using F-16 fighter jets.

President Pellegrini emphasized that NATO membership does not exempt the country from responsibility for its own defense.

NATO will also deploy additional patrol aircraft, radar systems, and drones to the Black Sea.

The decision was made following a series of attacks on merchant ships off the coasts of NATO member states.