In Baltic skies, NATO and Russian pilots size each other up warily but without a tilt into war
Associated Press
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A flight-crew member climbs into the cockpit of a French air force Rafale fighter jet stationed on a NATO air-policing mission at the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania as another member of the French detachment stands at the foot of the ladder on Sunday, April 19, 2026 (AP Photo/John Leicester)Romanian air force Col. Mihaita Marin, commander of a Romanian air wing of F-16 fighter jets deployed at the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania on a NATO air-policing mission, speaks during an interview on Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/John Leicester)A member of the French air wing of Rafale fighters jets deployed on a NATO air-policing mission at the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania wears a mission badge on her arm on Sunday, April 19, 2026 (AP Photo/John Leicester).Members of a French air force detachment of personnel and Rafale jets stationed on a monthslong deployment at the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania on a NATO air-policing mission play chess in the detachment's headquarters at the base on Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/John Leicester)French air force Commander Dorian (surname withheld by the French military) uses his hands to shield his ears from the scream of the jet engines of a Rafale fighter preparing to take off from the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania on a NATO air-policing mission on Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/John Leicester)
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A flight-crew member climbs into the cockpit of a French air force Rafale fighter jet stationed on a NATO air-policing mission at the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania as another member of the French detachment stands at the foot of the ladder on Sunday, April 19, 2026 (AP Photo/John Leicester)