RAMSTEIN, Germany - In the last weeks, General James B. Hecker, Commander Allied Air Command, traveled to Latvia (Aug 17), Iceland (Aug 28-29), Estonia (Aug 30), and Lithuania (Aug 31) to conduct high-level key leader engagements with each nation’s defence and air force leadership.
General Hecker discussed readiness, training, agile combat employment, and interoperability issues during these meetings and conducted tours of the Air Policing units stationed in the locations.
In my recent visits to Latvia, Iceland, Estonia, and Lithuania, I witnessed firsthand the unwavering commitment of these nations to NATO's critical mission and our 360-approach to defence
General Hecker during a meeting with the Latvian Air Chief, Colonel Viesturs Masulis (third from right) and his team at Lielvarde Air Base for coordination and update talks.
Photo courtesy Lativan Armed Forces.
General Hecker met with Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to discuss the war in Ukraine, NATO's enhanced deterrence and defence and Iceland's importance for maintaining situational awareness in the North-Atlantic.
Photo courtesy Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Besides meeting Estonian Defence Forces' leadership, at Ämari Air Base, Estonia, General Hecker had an opportunity to discuss with members of the Spanish Eurofighter detachment deployed here for NATO Air Policing.
Photo courtesy Estonian Defense Forces.
At Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania, General Hecker was engaged in talks with the Lithuanian Air Chief, Colonel Antanas Matucis (centre) and Colonel Federico Sacco Maino, Commander of the Italian Eurofighter Detachment leading NATO's Baltic Policing mission. Photo by Aurimas Sutkus/Lithuanian Air Force.
“In my recent visits to Latvia, Iceland, Estonia, and Lithuania as Commander of NATO’s Allied Air Command, I witnessed firsthand the unwavering commitment of these nations to NATO's critical mission and our 360-approach to defence,” said General Hecker.
“These interactions reinforced the vital role each nation plays in building a more robust and unified alliance. Together, we are dedicated to growing and modernising our Integrated Air and Missile Defense network. NATO must prioritise interoperability, resilience, and building capacity to negate any opponent’s reliance on Anti-Access Area Denial methods, ensuring the security and stability of our shared region,” the General added.