Italy welcomed in Estonia to augment NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission

Senior representatives from Estonia, NATO, Belgium and Italy addressed dignitaries and the two Allied detachments to stress the importance of Air Policing as a peacetime collective defence mission that is both vital and a fundamental component of safeguarding the integrity of Alliance Airspace.

Representing Allied Air Command, the Deputy Commander of the Deployable Air Command and Control Centre, Brigadier General Roberto Di Marco also thanked the Belgian detachment for their contribution and welcomed the Italian detachment to the mission.  “The Allied detachments’ mission here at Ämari is twofold: under the Assurance Measures they highlight NATO’s commitment as well as the ability to adapt and scale our defensive deterrence posture.  Under the Air Policing mission, they conduct collective defence, safeguard airspace integrity and ensure a single standard of airspace security across NATO’s area of responsibility,” said Di Marco.

This is the third time the Italian Air Force is part of mission in the Baltics after two a back-to-back deployment in Šiauliai and Ämari in 2014.  Allied Air Command’s Air Policing mission planning, direction and task coordination is provided by its two Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOCs) at Uedem and Torrejon.  CAOC Uedem is regionally responsible for Baltic Air Policing.

L. J. De Rothschild                                                                      

   Senior Editor