A spike in illegal crossings has prompted Lithuanian authorities to consider temporary controls at the Latvia border now. Officials warn resources are strained and consultations with partners are ongoing.
Lithuania’s Interior Minister Martinas Katelinas does not rule out a temporary restoration of border controls on the border with Latvia due to the rising number of illegal migrants.
According to LRT, the situation indicates an uptick in crossings and migrant activity. Last week Polish authorities discovered 27 illegal migrants in a truck that was en route through Lithuania from Latvia, and this was not an isolated incident.
Poland has been conducting checks on arrivals from Lithuania and Germany over the past year. According to Katelinas, Lithuania could also begin screening people crossing the border with Latvia.
Prospects for border control
This would, of course, be an extreme measure. But if we have no other way to manage the flow and stop migrants at the border, rather than on our territory, I think we would have to do it. I very much hope that it won’t come to this.
– Martinas Katelinas
According to Katelinas, implementing controls would depend on migrant flows and the capabilities of the border guards. He noted that this would need to be discussed with the border guards and their leadership to understand how long they could sustain it, and added that, by his assessment, not for very long.
Over the past month, during checks along the Lithuania-Latvia border, about 120 migrants have been detained. However, Lithuanian officials emphasize that resources are lacking to sustain constant border control.
Latvia has built a fence along its borders with Russia and Belarus, but the security system still has significant gaps. This year, around 8,000 migrants attempted to enter Latvia from Belarus – almost nine times more than to Lithuania.
According to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, intelligence services have information about possible provocations by Russia in Poland or the Baltic states aimed at testing NATO’s unity.
In the context of threats and challenges to border security, Lithuanian authorities emphasize the need for accurate monitoring of migrant flows and coordination of actions with neighboring countries.
The government continues to monitor the situation and coordinate actions with neighboring countries to respond promptly to migration challenges and ensure border security.