Portugal to lead NATO's Baltic Air Policing, joined by France and Spain

The Portuguese Air Force will lead NATO's Baltic Air Policing from May 2018, with four F-16M fighter jets based at Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania. Spain will contribute with six Eurofighters at Šiauliai, while France will deploy four Mirage 2000-5 jets to Ämari Air Base in Estonia. NATO member countries have taken turns safeguarding Baltic airspace since Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the Alliance in 2004.