lithuania is preparing to declare a national state of emergency as it grapples with a sustained influx of smuggling balloons originating from neighboring Belarus. The incursions, which have repeatedly disrupted air travel at Vilnius and Kaunas airports, are being condemned by Lithuanian officials as a purposeful act of hybrid warfare. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announced Friday that the emergency declaration will allow for increased resources to counter the balloon activity, and further measures are under consideration.
Lithuania will declare a “national state of emergency” due to the increasing number of smuggling balloons launched from Belarus, Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announced Friday.
“We are currently preparing the legal basis and the necessary documents,” Ruginiene told reporters, describing the declaration of a state of emergency as “the best measure to take at the moment.” The move will allow the government and local authorities to dedicate additional resources to countering the balloon incursions.
“We do not exclude going further,” Ruginiene added, indicating the state of emergency is expected to be formally declared next week. The two largest airports in Lithuania, in Vilnius and Kaunas, have repeatedly been forced to suspend operations in recent weeks due to the balloon incursions.
Lithuanian officials say the balloons, which fly as high as 6 miles, are deliberately flown on airport flight paths and represent an attack on civilian aviation. While balloons have long been used by smugglers to transport cigarettes, it is only in recent months that they have caused airport closures.
The Baltic state, a member of NATO and the European Union, has long accused Belarus, a close ally of Russia, of waging a “hybrid war.” The activity, which intensified in October, prompted Lithuania to temporarily close both of its border crossings with Belarus at the end of the month.
Minsk subsequently prevented Lithuanian trucks from traveling on its roads and prohibited them from leaving the country without paying a fee, which Vilnius denounced as an act of “hostage-taking” by Belarus. The escalating tensions highlight the increasingly fraught relationship between the two countries and raise concerns about regional stability.
