Kaunas: NATO’s top commander in Europe to decide on enhanced air defence capabilities

Lithuania’s Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas has stated that NATO’s latest decision to transform its Baltic air policing mission into an air defence mission means the Alliance’s Supreme Commander in Europe will determine the need for additional air defence systems or fighter jets in the region, in consultation with national military leaders, LRT reports.

Following this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, President Gitanas Nausėda announced the decision to reclassify the Alliance’s air policing mission in the Baltic states as an air defence mission.

Kaunas did not specify whether this would automatically mean the deployment of additional air defence capabilities. “Where and how many NATO fighter jets, ground-based air defence, or other equipment will be needed will be decided by NATO’s Supreme Commander in Europe, in coordination with military leaders, in response to situations in the Baltic region, Finland, and other Eastern Flank states,” the minister said during a 15min programme on Thursday.

According to Kaunas, the NATO decision marks a shift towards a “flexible and defensive deterrence” in air defence, moving away from political discussions or debates. “The military will adopt this approach entirely. I will not specify dates or details of this particular decision. Everything is adaptive based on the situation we observe in the air,” the minister explained.

He noted that the Lithuanian military already possesses air defence capabilities, including NASAMS and SAMP/T systems, as well as counter-drone solutions, which can be flexibly deployed or relocated to allies as needed. Kaunas also emphasised that existing air defence capabilities in the Baltic states will not be reduced.

“There are technical details that I am not authorised to disclose. The main message is that the capabilities we have in Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia remain, and any additional capabilities will be part of planning and preparation,” Kaunas told TV3 News on Thursday.

The minister argued that this NATO decision will allow for faster responses to air threats in the Baltic states. “For example, if we observe larger Russian air movements near Lithuania, we can make decisions immediately without waiting for special political moments,” he said.

Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys previously stated that Lithuania had long sought this change, which is already being implemented and should take effect soon. According to him, the decision will grant NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe certain authorisations to use specific types of weapons and, together with the fighter jets performing the air policing mission, defend the Baltic skies.

NATO’s Baltic air policing mission began in March 2004, when Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia joined the Alliance. Since then, military personnel from Belgium, Denmark, the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain, the US, Poland, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, France, Romania, Turkey, Hungary, Germany, and Italy have patrolled the Baltic airspace.