On 29 March 2004 Lithuania became a full-fledged member of the North Atlantic Organization, NATO. NATO membership is Lithuania’s security guarantee. The strongest defensive alliance in the world by this time comprises 32 members. When Lithuania secured NATO membership in 2004, Allied fighter aircraft landed at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai on March 29 as the first symbolic representation of the affiliation. The NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states celebrates its 20th anniversary as well.
The anniversary will be marked in a series of events on March 28 and 29.
On March 28 commemoration of the launch of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states and Lithuania’s NATO membership anniversary will take place at the Lithuanian Armed Forces Air Force Base in Šiauliai. It will coincide with a hand over-take over (NOTO) ceremony of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission flown from Šiauliai. Leadership of the Belgian and French air contingents will hand over the symbolic key to the Baltic airspace to the commanders of the new Spanish-Portuguese detachment.
On March 29 the 20th anniversary of NATO membership will be marked with a celebration ceremony on Daukantas Square, Vilnius, at noon, all municipalities of Lithuania have been invited to hoist the flags of Lithuania and NATO at that hour in demonstration of the importance of Lithuania’s membership in the Alliance to all the people of Lithuania.
Later Vilnius residents and guests are invited to the Cathedral Square to observe the opening of #WeAreNATO20 artistic installation at 16:47 in the evening of the same day. At that time 20 years ago NATO fighter aircraft entered the Baltic airspace and touched down at the Šiauliai Airbase thus commencing the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states and becoming the first symbol of Lithuania’s NATO membership.
On March 29 also the Energy and Technology Museum will display the “November. Alpha. Tango. Oscar.” exhibition reflecting on the 20th NATO anniversary. Visitors will be able to try four interactive simulations: of a parachute, UAV jamming, communications security and firing. The exhibition will be open until the end of the year.
And on April 13 the public is invited to join the Runway Run tribute run. Runway of the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai will turn into a 3000-meter track for the unique event that is surmountable not just for a taxying fighter aircraft but also a colorful crowd: Lithuanian military, Allies, different organisations, sports clubs, education institutions, solitary joggers and whoever else desires regardless of age. Music at the event will be played by the Air Force Band, artistic collectives will perform, a static display of military equipment and aircraft will be there for the interest of the gathered.
Photo credit: MoD / A. Pliadis
