Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. continued his sweep through Eastern Europe this week, visiting Latvia and Lithuania from Dec. 19 to 21. In talks with military leaders there Brown focused on integrated air and missile defense, a key concern for the Baltic states given their proximity to Russia.
In Latvia, Brown met with Minister of Defense Inara Murniece, Chief of Defense Lt. Gen. Leonīds Kalniņš, and Air Force Commander Col. Viesturs Masulis. In Lithuania, he spoke with Chief of Defense Lt. Gen. Valdemaras Rupšys and Air Force Commander Col. Antanas Matutis. He previously visited with Poland Air Force and military leaders, discussing future U.S. force rotations and the soon-to-be-delivered F-35s with Polish defense leaders, according to a readout of his visit.
Latvia and Lithuania have smaller air forces than Poland does, possessing a combined inventory of less than 30 aircraft and no fighter jets. But both countries are modernizing—on Dec. 20, Latvia received two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the U.S. to add to its air force, and the Lithuanian Air Force is scheduled to receive the first of four Black Hawks in 2024.
According to separate readouts provided by the USAF, Brown discussed modernization and “integrated air and missile defense,” Lithuania having announced a deal just a week ago to purchase High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems from the U.S. Latvia is seeking to do the same.
The HIMARS system is now highly coveted, with Ukraine having demonstrated the system’s prowess in its defense against Russian invaders, using the guided weapon to strike targets behind enemy lines.
Without fighter aircraft, Latvia and Lithuania rely on NATO for help patrolling their skies as part of the alliance’s Baltic Air Policing mission. Polish and French forces recently took over that mission, but U.S. Airmen and aircraft have performed it recently, as well.
“Brown … thanked Lithuania for its support of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing missions at Siauliai Air Base, which are critical to regional security and stability,” according to the USAF readout. American F-35s deployed to Siauliai this past February ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Both Latvia and Lithuania have sent military aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, a fact for which Brown thanked them during his visit.
During his trip, Brown also met with the U.S. ambassadors to both countries and DOD personnel serving at the embassies.