Lithuania Declares Emergency Over Belarus Balloons
In this undated photo released by the State Border Guard Service, an officer inspects a balloon used to carry cigarettes into Lithuania, because Belarussian smugglers often use them to ferry the contraband into the European Union (State Border Guard Service via AP, File)
Lithuania’s government on Tuesday declared a national emergency in response to security threats from meteorological balloons sent from Belarus, an ally of Russia, that have repeatedly entered Lithuanian airspace in recent weeks. The Belarusian president called for negotiations to ease border tensions, emphasizing that his country “does not need war.”
The balloons have forced repeated closures of Lithuania’s main airport, stranding thousands of travelers, as Europe remains on high alert after previous violations of NATO airspace amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Associated Press reports. “In combating the Belarusian hybrid attack, we must take the strictest measures and defend the areas most affected,” Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said.
The declaration came after a Cabinet meeting in the Baltic nation, which is both a NATO member and a strong supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces following the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Under the national emergency, the Lithuanian military can patrol border areas alongside other uniformed services and is granted additional powers by parliament, including the authority to conduct searches or detain individuals. Officials said the impact on civilians would be minimal.
While some of the balloons are used to smuggle cigarettes into Lithuania, authorities in Vilnius view their frequency and flight paths as deliberate acts of disruption by Belarus. The Lithuanian government reported that Vilnius International Airport has been closed for more than 60 hours since October due to threats to civil aviation, disrupting over 350 flights and affecting approximately 51,000 passengers. Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic said prosecutors have launched an investigation into the balloons, with intelligence services examining links to the Minsk regime.
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