Lithuania marks NATO anniversary with fighter jet runway race in Šiauliai

Thousands of runners took part in the annual Runway Run at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base on Friday, racing along the same three-kilometre strip used by NATO fighter jets to mark the country’s 22nd anniversary of joining the alliance, reports LRT.

The event, held at the military airbase in Zokniai, drew participants from early morning, with the base opening to all willing to tackle the runway where allied aircraft patrol Baltic airspace daily. Around 10,000 people joined the race, including government ministers, police and fire service leaders, and foreign military personnel.

“This year marks 22 years in NATO—it’s important to participate and stand together for Lithuania,” one runner said. Others emphasised unity, with a servicemember noting, “Soldiers and civilians running together shows how strong and united we are.”

The fastest finishers completed the course in roughly 10 minutes. As runners set off, Spanish F-18 fighters—currently on Baltic air policing duty—took to the skies from an adjacent runway. Belgian soldier Jan van den Broeck called the experience “exhausting but fantastic,” while local participant Aistė Nainė celebrated winning her race.

Colonel Antanas Matutis, commander of Lithuania’s Air Force, stressed the growing significance of the event amid current geopolitical tensions. “An army alone cannot defend the country without public support—Ukraine proves that,” he said, highlighting the need for societal resilience alongside military strength.

Visitors also toured NATO weaponry and equipment, with new Black Hawk helicopters—a 2023 acquisition for rescue operations—drawing particular interest. Two more are expected by year’s end.