In 2024, a rotational mission of the North Atlantic Alliance for air defense (AD) will begin in Lithuania, with the deployment of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) in the republic. This was announced by the head of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, Arvydas Anušauskas, according to the LRT portal.
“This year, at least partially, the rotational AD system that was discussed in Vilnius will finally start working,” he said.
According to the minister, Lithuania’s allies have already discussed the deployment of AD systems, including Patriot, in the country. He did not provide specific deadlines, but noted that “this will happen already this year”.
In June 2023, NATO countries, in response to calls from the Baltic states to strengthen the air policing mission, agreed on a rotational model for air defense.
Prior to this, the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, stated that NATO will deploy more troops not only in the Baltic region, but also on the eastern flank as a whole – from Finland to Bulgaria. According to the Latvian President, “today, investments in military potential are at the same time investments in the preservation of peace in Europe”.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania named the necessary number of reservists for defense.
