Lithuania's National Emergency: Balloon Intrusions and Border Tensions

Lithuania declared a national emergency due to security threats from meteorological balloons sent by Belarus, affecting its airspace. The situation has caused airport closures and is seen as a hybrid attack orchestrated by Belarus. Belarus calls for negotiations amid regional tensions.

Lithuania's government has declared a national emergency, attributing the decision to security threats from meteorological balloons dispatched from Belarus. These balloons have breached Lithuanian airspace multiple times in recent weeks, prompting significant disruptions, including the temporary closure of the nation's main airport, which left thousands of travelers stranded.

The Lithuanian authorities perceive the balloon incursions as part of a deliberate campaign by Belarus, a country closely allied with Russia, intended to destabilize the nation amid ongoing regional tensions. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene emphasized the necessity of stringent defensive measures to counteract what she termed as a Belarusian hybrid attack.

In response to the airspace violations, the Lithuanian cabinet has empowered its military and uniformed services to patrol and secure the border, with additional powers such as conducting searches. Meanwhile, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dismissed the allegations, urging dialogue and labeling Lithuania's border closure as a 'mad scam' within a broader hybrid conflict.