Lithuania: Crosetto – Italia’s presence on NATO’s eastern flank is crucial

"Safety guarantee". Drone shot down during the night

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Late yesterday evening, two Eurofighter F-2000 fighter jets from the Italian Air Force’s “Baltic Thunder III” Air Task Force took off on a scramble alert as part of the NATO air defence mission on the Alliance’s eastern flank, following a drone’s violation of Lithuanian airspace". This was reported by the Ministry of Defence following announcements regarding the incident made by the Lithuanian President and the armed forces in Vilnius.

"Italian crews intercepted the unmanned aircraft and neutralised it in accordance with the Alliance’s standard operating procedures," the statement explains. "This is the second such incident involving our fighter jets within a month."

"It is also because of incidents such as this that the presence of our military personnel on the Eastern Flank is essential to guaranteeing collective security. Today, I will be there alongside them to convey the support of the Government and of Italia, and to thank them, on behalf of the Italian people, for the invaluable work they carry out,” commented Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, who is currently on a mission to the Alliance’s eastern flank in Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania.

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