• Lithuania plans to shoot down balloons used for smuggling cigarettes from Belarus.
• Vilnius Airport has been closed multiple times due to these balloon incursions.
• The border with Belarus will be closed indefinitely, allowing only limited crossings.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announced plans to shoot down balloons entering from Belarus that are used for smuggling cigarettes, following significant air traffic disruptions at Vilnius Airport. This decision comes after a week marked by repeated closures of the airport, with operations suspended four times due to these balloon incidents, causing severe travel delays for passengers, according to Indiatimes, Reuters, and Aljazeera.

The Prime Minister emphasized that these balloons represent hybrid attacks on Lithuania's sovereignty and security, urging a swift and strict response. She indicated that the border with Belarus would be closed indefinitely, permitting only diplomats and EU citizens to cross, as retaliatory measures to what Lithuania views as deliberate provocations by Belarus, tied to President Alexander Lukashenko’s inaction against smugglers, according to Reuters and CBS News.

Ruginiene's government plans to consult with NATO about invoking Article 4, which allows member states to request discussions about security threats. This escalation marks a noteworthy shift in Lithuania's defense posture, reflecting growing concerns over the increasing frequency of balloon incursions; the Lithuanian National Crisis Management Centre noted that nearly 544 balloons have entered its airspace this year alone, underlining the gravity of the situation, as reported by BBC and AA.

The situation not only affects Lithuania but also points to broader regional security concerns, with other European nations experiencing similar airspace violations. Lithuanian observers have described the recent incidents as part of a pattern of escalating tensions, with Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys calling these actions deliberate provocations aimed at challenging NATO's resolve, according to Aljazeera and CBS News.