NATO member Lithuania has enacted significant safety measures by closing its two primary airports and border crossings with Belarus due to recent incursions involving helium balloons. This decision follows a series of similar incidents in the Baltic nation, marking a concerning trend in aerial security challenges.

Lithuania’s Vilnius and Kaunas airports were temporarily shut down for safety precautions, with operations expected to resume early Sunday morning. The border with Belarus remains closed until midday on the same day. Lithuanian authorities attribute these incidents to smugglers attempting to transport contraband, particularly cigarettes, utilizing helium-filled balloons as their method of delivery. Furthermore, the country has directed criticism at Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, closely associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, for not taking action against the balloon activities.

Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene highlighted that the National Security Commission would convene to explore immediate responses aimed at disrupting the operations of smugglers and addressing the challenges posed by Lukashenko’s government. The Ministry for National Defence reported a radar detection of “tens of balloons” on Friday, indicating a systematic issue rather than isolated incidents.

This is not the first time Lithuania has faced such security challenges; airport closures occurred earlier in the week and also on October 5, when balloons breached the airspace above the capital. These incidents coincide with heightened tensions surrounding airspace violations, including an episode involving two Russian military aircraft that inadvertently crossed into Lithuanian territory. In an official statement, Lithuania’s armed forces noted that the aircraft might have been involved in aerial refueling exercises in the adjacent Russian exclave of Kaliningrad before this brief incursion.

In response to the airspace violation, President Gitanas Nauseda characterized the act as a severe infringement on Lithuania’s national sovereignty and international law. He stated intentions to summon representatives from the Russian embassy to formally protest such reckless actions.

While Russia’s Ministry of Defence refutes the claims of airspace violation, asserting that its operations adhered to regulation and borders, the frequency of these incursions has stirred unease across the region. Observers note these developments may be indicative of testing NATO’s defensive capabilities, aiming to analyze the alliance’s potential responses in the face of rising tensions.

As these geopolitical dynamics evolve, Lithuania’s actions reflect a commitment to national security amid complex regional challenges.

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