On December 10 Ambassador of Belgium in Lithuania HE Peter Lescouhier paid a visit to the Air Base of the Lithuanian Air Force in Šiauliai, the guest was met and accompanied during his tour in the facilities by Vice Minister of National Defence for International Cooperation Marijus Velička, Commander of the Lithuanian Air Force Major General Edvardas Mažeikis and Commander of the Air Base Lieutenant Colonel Vidmantas Raklevičius.
The guests and Lithuania's representatives met with the Belgian Air Contingent currently deployed on NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, toured the recently opened NATO's Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Air Policing mission HQ building, and watched a training take-off of Belgian F-16 fighter-jets.
The mission of the Belgian Air Contingent is drawing to an end. They are scheduled to be replaced on January 3, 2014, by U.S. air personnel that will be ensuring security in the Baltic airspace with four F-15 Eagle.
Photo credit: MSgt Alvydas Tamošiūnas
