Lithuania vows response after Belarus balloons force Vilnius airport closure

Lithuania has threatened to implement "all possible measures" after Vilnius Airport was forced to halt operations due to security concerns caused by balloons allegedly launched from neighboring Belarus. President Gitanas Nausėda condemned the repeated disruptions, characterizing them as ongoing hybrid attacks that severely inconvenience passengers and threaten aviation safety in the Baltic nation.

Military Response Under Consideration

President Nausėda indicated that Lithuania's response would include kinetic military measures, acknowledging that the country's armed forces possess capabilities to address such aerial threats. "Destroying balloons is not simple—it requires great precision. I believe our military will soon find the most appropriate and safest solution," Nausėda stated, according to LRT News. The comments signal a potential escalation in Lithuania's approach to the balloon incursions.

Pattern of Disruption and Smuggling Allegations

The latest airport closure continues a pattern that has seen Vilnius Airport operations suspended four times in the past week alone, with Kaunas Airport also experiencing a temporary closure. Lithuanian authorities accuse Belarus of complicity in using balloons to transport illegal goods, particularly cigarettes, across their shared border. Nausėda directly linked the smuggling activity to financial benefits for the Belarusian regime, stating it "encourages criminals to continue using methods that endanger aviation safety."

Deteriorating Bilateral Relations

The balloon incidents occur amid already strained relations between Vilnius and Minsk. Lithuania has closed its two remaining border checkpoints with Belarus as part of broader efforts to pressure the neighboring government. "The closed border reflects the current state of our relations," Nausėda remarked, adding that Lithuania possesses its own tools, including national and European Union sanctions, and would "raise the temperature as much as needed" in response to continued provocations. Earlier this month, authorities reported detecting "tens of balloons," including one incident where 25 balloons entered Lithuanian airspace.