BRUSSELS, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Netherlands took over NATO's Baltic air policing mission from France, NATO said Friday.
The 43th rotation of NATO's Baltic air policing mission kicked off at a ceremony at Lithuania's Siauliai air base on Thursday.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force will patrol the skies over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania until the end of April 2017 for a regular term of four months.
The Netherlands led the mission once before in 2005.
"A task we gladly perform for the next four months to demonstrate NATO unity," said Major Gert, commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force detachment.
NATO Baltic air policing missions have been carried out since 2004 with NATO allies taking turns deploying their interceptors and staff in the Baltic states in a four-month rotation.
