NATO’s Eastern Flank Gets Stronger Polish F-16s Deployed in Lithuania, Allies Arrive in Poland

Poland has taken over from French and Italian forces at the Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania, deploying four F-16 Fighting Falcons for the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission. This marks Poland’s latest BAP rotation since its first in 2006, and Romania’s third such deployment to Lithuania. Across the border in Poland, Royal Air Force Typhoons and Swedish Gripens have settled into the 22nd Air Base at Malbork under the command of NATO’s Combined Air Operations Center. While the Swedish Armed Forces have supported joint missions before, this is their inaugural foray into an Enhanced Air Policing operation following Stockholm’s formal admission to NATO.

Concurrently, Ramstein Flag 2025—a multinational air combat exercise—has kicked off with participation from more than ninety aircraft representing 15 NATO allies. Though not part of Air Policing directly, the exercise sharpens NATO’s collective skills in agile combat employment, countering anti-access and area denial threats, and quickly responding to simulated emergencies in an Article 5 scenario. With the alliance’s eastern flank on heightened alert—especially after Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea—these deployments highlight NATO’s resolve to protect its members’ airspace and reinforce mutual defense obligations. #shorts

Видео NATO’s Eastern Flank Gets Stronger Polish F-16s Deployed in Lithuania, Allies Arrive in Poland канала Crossroads of Military Discussions
Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, United Kingdom, Romania, Eastern Europe, Lord Vernon Coaker, Lieutenant Colonel Anders Gustafsson, Colonel Martin O’Donnell, NATO, Polish Air Force, Romanian Air Force, Swedish Air Force, Royal Air Force (UK), NATO Combined Air Operations Center, Ramstein Flag 2025 Exercise, Baltic Air Policing Rotation, Enhanced Air Policing Missions, First Swedish Gripens in NATO Air Policing, Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine & Heightened Tensions