Shortly after Lithuania joined NATO on 29 March, a detachment of four Belgian F-16 Mid-Life Update aircraft were flown to Siauliai AB to provide a quick action alert force over Baltic countries. This detachment will rotate with Danish and Norwegian F-16s on a long-term basis and represents the most-eastward NATO presence in Europe and the closest to the Russian border. Lithuania, formerly a part of the Soviet Union, is one of seven new member countries to join NATO.
Shortly after Lithuania joined NATO on 29 March, a detachment of four Belgian F-16 Mid-Life Update aircraft were flown to Siauliai AB to provide a quick action alert force over Baltic countries. This detachment will rotate with Danish and Norwegian F-16s on a long-term basis and represents the most-eastward NATO presence in Europe and the closest to the Russian border. Lithuania, formerly a part of the Soviet Union, is one of seven new member countries to join NATO.
