The Romanian Air Force pilot who shot down a drone that entered Estonian airspace was decorated by the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense with the 'Envoy for Peace' Emblem, 1st Class, during a working visit to the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania, where the Carpathian Vipers detachment is deployed for Baltic Air Policing missions, the Ministry announced on Friday.

According to the Ministry, the delegation, which included acting Defense Minister Radu Miruta, Chief of Defense General Gheorghita Vlad, and Air Force Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Leonard Baraboi, met with the personnel of the Romanian detachment to review mission responsibilities, cooperation with allied forces, and the operational challenges specific to the Lithuanian deployment.

During a formal ceremony, the Defense minister presented the 1st Class 'Envoy for Peace' Emblem to the pilot who, on May 19, successfully engaged and neutralized a drone violating Estonian airspace.

'Behind that moment lie years of preparation, discipline, hundreds of flight hours, coordination, and an entire team that executed its mission flawlessly. My gratitude goes to the entire Carpathian Vipers detachment, to each of the nearly 100 Romanian troops serving here in Lithuania,' Miruta said.

He thanked allied partners for their daily cooperation and reaffirmed his full support for the deployed personnel.

'The Romanian Air Force is now on its fourth deployment in Lithuania. Since 2007, generations of Romanian airmen have contributed to protecting Baltic airspace and strengthening the Alliance's deterrence and defense posture. As Minister of National Defense, I will continue to ensure that the Romanian Armed Forces receive the equipment, technology and capabilities they need. Thank you for your professionalism and for the way you represent Romania here in Siauliai,' Miruta added.

On the sidelines of the visit, the Romanian minister held bilateral talks with his Lithuanian counterpart Robertas Kaunas, focusing on concrete security issues on NATO's Eastern Flank and the adaptation of defense capabilities to emerging threats.

Discussions centered on the development and integration of anti-drone capabilities on the Eastern Flank and the importance of operational cooperation among allied states. According to the Ministry, the Lithuanian official praised the professionalism of Romanian troops and the results achieved in Baltic airspace missions, including the recent drone interception, underscoring the value of shared experience and interoperability.

The two ministers also emphasized the need to maintain public support for defense efforts and to strengthen societal resilience amid the ongoing security challenges generated by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Another key topic was the intensification of propaganda and disinformation campaigns, a phenomenon Lithuania faces constantly and which affects other Eastern Flank states as well. In this context, Minister Miruta proposed placing on the agenda of the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara a substantial discussion on disinformation as a major security risk, advocating for a coordinated approach among Eastern Flank and Baltic allies based on their operational experience and daily challenges. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mihai Stoica; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)

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