NATO to replace Baltic air policing mission with air defence

NATO’s air policing mission in the Baltic states will transition to an air defence mission, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda confirmed on Wednesday, as reported by LRT.

The change, announced during the NATO summit in Ankara, is expected to significantly enhance Lithuania’s air defence capabilities. According to Nausėda, the shift will allow allied forces to take on a broader mandate in response to hybrid threats and drone attacks in the region.

Defence analyst Darius Antanaitis explained that while official details remain undisclosed, the procedural shift is straightforward. Air policing, like ground policing, focuses on monitoring and interception with limited authority. In contrast, air defence operates under military rules, permitting the use of force when threats arise.

“The rules for using weapons will likely change, and the decision-making process for engaging targets may be streamlined, possibly allowing pilots or lower-level commanders to act more swiftly,” Antanaitis said.

He cited the increasing complexity of regional security, including drone incursions carrying explosives into Baltic airspace, as a key factor behind the decision. “The situation has changed dramatically. We can’t play a new game by the old rules,” he added.

Lithuania’s Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas told LRT Radio that the change grants additional authority and tools to NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe to ensure air defence across all alliance members. The decision enables military leaders to deploy dedicated air defence assets to nations facing greater threats, particularly in NATO’s eastern flank.

Kaunas noted that the transition from air policing to air defence also introduces new NATO response algorithms, ensuring faster and more decisive reactions to potential threats. Implementation has already begun, though some technical procedures remain.