At Ämari Air Base, the medal awarding ceremony took place NATO Baltic Air Policing mission to the personnel of the Air Task Force (ATF) 4th Wing – Baltic Eagle III, deployed in Estonia within the framework of Enhanced Air Policing for the protection of the Alliance's eastern flank.
At the ceremony, there were Estonian Minister of Defence, Hanno Pevkur, The Italian Ambassador in Tallinn, H.E. Stefano Catani, and various military authorities, including the Air Division General Marco Lant, Commander of the Air Force Combat Forces, and the Counter-Admiral Valentino Rinaldi, from the Interforce Summit Operational Command. The Estonian Minister personally presented the decoration to Commander of the TFA, Colonel Gaetano Farina, highlighting in his speech: «Your presence in Estonia has had a concrete impact: it strengthens NATO's deterrence posture, reassures our population daily, and contributes to the protection of the Alliance's airspace.».
The medals awarded represent recognition for service carried out within the scope of operations. NATO and acknowledge the commitment of Italian military personnel to Collective security. Italy contributes to the activities of Air Policing in Estonia with assets from the Air Force and Army, expressing integrated operational capabilities and an inter-force presence fully inserted into the allied structure.
