Saturday, March 29, 2025
Lithuania declared a national emergency on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, in response to security risks posed by balloons released from neighboring Belarus. These balloons, often used for cigarette smuggling, have increasingly flown into Lithuanian airspace, heightening tensions along the border.
Belarus, an ally of Russia, has violated Lithuanian airspace multiple times in recent weeks. Lithuania is a NATO member and has been strengthening its security measures amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, opposing Russian aggression firmly. The balloons forced the temporary closure of Lithuania’s largest airport multiple times, causing significant disruption for thousands of travelers.
The Lithuanian Prime Minister, Inga Ruginėne, emphasized the need for strict security measures to counter these hybrid threats. The national emergency declaration authorizes the military to patrol border areas actively and grants extended powers to detain or investigate suspicious individuals. Despite this, the government assured citizens that the emergency would have limited impact on daily civilian life.
Belarusian leadership has called for dialogue to ease border tensions, asserting that their country does not seek war.
This national emergency highlights the escalating security challenges for Lithuania on the front lines of Eastern European geopolitical conflicts, with direct links to Russia under President Vladimir Putin’s influence.
