Key facts
- NATO has upgraded its Baltic air policing mission to an air defence role.
- The new mandate allows pilots to destroy 'objects that pose a threat'.
- The change was announced by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
- The mission, active since 2004, previously focused on escorting Russian military aircraft.
- This year marked the first time the mission fired its weapons in defence of the alliance, downing stray drones.
NATO has agreed to enhance its Baltic air policing mission, transforming it into a more robust air defence operation. The decision, announced by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, grants pilots a broader mandate that includes the authority to destroy perceived aerial threats.
The Baltic air policing mission, established in 2004 when Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia joined NATO, has historically focused on identifying and escorting Russian military aircraft flying near the airspace of the three Baltic states. These nations do not operate their own fighter jets, relying on the NATO mission for air security.