Lithuania Strengthens Defense: Confirms Shooting Down Air Balloons Violating Its Borders
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has officially confirmed that his country will shoot down any air balloons that enter its airspace without authorization, responding to an increasing number of border violations and potential threats.
According to him, Lithuania’s military response has become more effective thanks to new surveillance and detection systems that allow for swift and accurate reactions to dangerous incidents.
This is a significant step in protecting the country’s sovereignty, especially after Vilnius airports had to suspend operations four times last week due to reports of smuggling balloons allegedly launched from Belarus, raising serious concerns about flight safety and regional stability.
In response to these events, Lithuania’s Prime Minister called for a united and decisive reaction, emphasizing the need for cooperation in countering such hybrid threats.
Nausėda stressed that these actions are part of a broader strategy to defend the nation against external threats, including hybrid warfare tactics.
He also highlighted that deliberate provocations and efforts to block the border aim to destabilize the situation and create tensions.
The president further indicated that diplomatic measures, including discussions within NATO, remain a priority, and any actions to escalate tensions with Belarus will have serious consequences for Minsk.
Meanwhile, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko apologized for the incident but accompanied his statement with new accusations against Vilnius, which has caused renewed concern among Lithuanian security agencies.
Experts warn that the situation could escalate further, and Lithuania is considering invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which involves consultations and coordinated responses among allies in case of security threats.
In this context, the Lithuanian government has proposed to tighten transit controls and temporarily close the border with Belarus to prevent further smuggling and provocations.