Other events in Baltic States

The handover ceremony of the NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic States took place in the Ämari Air Base on Tuesday as a British Royal Air Force air unit with four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets took over the rotation form the Spanish unit, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports.

The ceremony was attended by Estonian Foreign Minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, Spanish and British ambassadors, the Chief of Defence Forces, Major General Riho Terras and NATO senior officers.

"I am extremely pleased to welcome you to Ämari Air Base and to be a part of the ceremony marking the beginning of the 38th rotation of NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic States, and fourth rotation from Ämari. Until September, Belgium, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom will make sure that the integrity of Alliance’s airspace is preserved in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. This collective effort is a good example demonstrating Alliance’s solidarity and commitment. It sends a clear message of 28 for 28," Pentus-Rosimannus said at the ceremony, as reported by the Foreign Ministry.

"This mission carries a very strong visible sign for Estonia. We tend to call your over flights the whisper of freedom. But over the last year this mission has also proved its practical necessity and importance as NATO has scrambled more than 150 times in response to Russian intensified air activity over the Baltic States. And this is four times more than in 2013," she said.

Pentus-Rosimannus warmly welcomed the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and thanked Spain and the Spanish Air Force for the astounding work and contribution to our collective security. She also thanked the Estonian Defence Forces, and the Air Force particularly, for making this all possible. "You have hosted Baltic Air Policing mission in Ämari for a full year now, there have been numerous exercises, deployments, visits. Your professionalism and good work is globally known. Thank you for that and your excellent service," she said.