Latvia takes over hosting of NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission

A deployment ceremony for NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission was held Saturday at a military airbase in Lielvarde, a town 52 km southeast of the capital city Riga, reported Xinhua.

According to information released on the Latvian Ministry of Defense website, Latvia will take over the hosting of NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission for the next nine months while renovation works are underway at Amari Air Base, Estonia.

The Baltic Air Policing mission is conducted by soldiers and military aircraft from the German armed forces.

This is the first time that Latvia takes over as the mission's host nation.