"The decision of Denmark to enhance NATO's air policing mission (...) testifies to the friendly and credible relations our countries have developed over the last three decades," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in his welcome speech at the Siauliai base.

"This is even more important in these testing times. The current security in the region with Russia trying to intimidate and threaten an independent Ukrainian state is a matter of great concern," he said.

"Therefore, keeping the security balance on NATO's eastern flank and around Ukraine must be our priority."

The Royal Danish Air Force's four additional F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft have joined the leading Polish air detachment in Lithuania and the augmenting Belgian air detachment in Estonia.

The Poles and Belgians have been patrolling the Baltic skies with four F-16 fighter jets each since December.

"The Royal Danish Air Force will be conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states for the ninth time. The Danish crew will number approx. 80 service members – pilots, engineers, paramedics, support elements, specialists of communications and other personnel," the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said in a press release earlier this week.

"NATO allies made the decision to send an augmentation detachment to the NATO Air Policing Mission once again in the context of Russia's further increased tensions along Ukraine’s borders and with regard to the necessity to strengthen the security of NATO's eastern allies, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, and to ensure deterrence," it said.

The mission has also been reinforced by US F-15 fighter jets that landed at Estonia's Amari Air Base on Wednesday.

NATO member countries have taken turns safeguarding Baltic airspace since Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the Alliance back in 2004.

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