• Lithuania declares a nationwide emergency due to invasive balloons from Belarus.
• The government claims the incursions constitute a "hybrid attack" threatening national security.
• Primarily used for smuggling, the balloons have disrupted air traffic significantly.
• Belarusian President Lukashenko denies involvement and calls for negotiations.
• The emergency declaration grants military powers to respond effectively to the balloon incursions.

Lithuania has declared a "nationwide emergency situation" in response to multiple incursions by meteorological balloons from Belarus, which have become a point of national security concern. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene described these incursions as a "hybrid attack" that poses significant risks to national security and civil aviation, especially given reports of balloon flights disrupting airspace and leading to multiple airport closures. Since October, over 600 balloons linked to smuggling and nearly 200 drones have violated Lithuanian airspace, raising alarm about the nature of this activity, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.

The emergency declaration allows the Lithuanian military to augment police and border guards in overseeing border patrols and enhancing national defense strategies against what the government perceives as a deliberate disruption orchestrated by Belarus. The balloons, previously used for smuggling cigarettes, have been cited by officials as part of a broader pattern of hybrid warfare, reflecting a concerning trend in Eastern Europe amid ongoing tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine, according to SCMP.

Lithuania's Prime Minister asserted that the threats posed by the balloons have led to significant operational disruptions, with Vilnius International Airport closed for over 60 hours and affecting approximately 51,000 passengers. These measures are expected to reduce the risk associated with the balloons, which can fly up to 10km high. The Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic confirmed investigations into the balloons are underway, viewing them as evidence of a hybrid attack from the Belarusian regime, as emphasized by BBC and SCMP.

In response to these developments, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko dismissed the accusations, asserting that the situation had been politicized by Lithuania and expressing a desire for negotiations rather than conflict. He emphasized that although there have been balloon sightings, he sees no credible threat to aviation safety, claiming, "It is unrealistic" for these balloons to pose such dangers. Nonetheless, the Lithuanian government maintains that these incursions are an intentional tactic used by Belarus to test NATO's defense capabilities and create instability in the region, according to Al Jazeera and SCMP.