Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, the European Commission’s transport spokesperson, explained that Brussels is monitoring the situation and is in contact with Vilnius in order to clarify the causes of the accidents, but avoided speculating on responsibility.
Additional measures planned
According to reports in the Financial Times, in recent days advisers to Lithuanian President Nausėda have suggested that transit to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad could also be restricted.
Prime Minister Ruginienė added that Lithuania does not rule out using Article 4 of NATO, which allows for consultations between allies in the event of a security threat. This measure, not to be confused with Article 5, which calls for military intervention, was also recently used by Estonia and Poland following violations of their airspace by Russia.
Already last week, Ruginienė had convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Commission to deal with the balloon raids, stating: ‘we must find – not discuss, but find – a solution’. The Lithuanian government is also reportedly planning to toughen penalties for smugglers.
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