On March 31, 2026, the French Air and Space Force formally took over the lead of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission in Lithuania, deploying four Rafale fighters to Šiauliai alongside a Romanian F-16 detachment replacing the previous Spanish contingent. Announced by NATO as part of the Alliance’s continuous protection of Baltic airspace, the rotation comes at a time when the security of Europe’s northeastern flank is shaped not only by routine air sovereignty requirements, but also by the wider consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the growing risk of military spillover, intimidation, and strategic miscalculation. Read Full Defense News At This Link.
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France has deployed Rafale fighters to Lithuania to lead NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, reinforcing allied air defense on the alliance’s eastern flank amid heightened regional tensions (Picture Source: NATO)