Lithuania Proposes Long-Term Border Closure with Belarus Over Security Concerns

In connection with the threat of smuggling that could be carried out through Belarusian meteorological probes, the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda has proposed closing the border with Belarus for an extended period and restricting transit to Kaliningrad.

According to Lithuanian media, this position was voiced as part of discussions about security challenges in recent days and possible corresponding steps by the government.

“The president views the incidents of the past days and the disruptions at the airports as a hybrid attack on Lithuania, which must be met with both symmetric and asymmetric responses. In the coming days, the government should propose ways to respond. Among the options to be considered are a prolonged closure of the border with Belarus and restrictions on transit to Kaliningrad,” the president’s administration told the Lithuanian agency BNS on Sunday.

Reaction of the authorities and further steps

On Tuesday, the head of state plans to hold an interagency meeting to develop an action plan in case of threats. Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said that on Monday she will convene a meeting of the National Security Commission to discuss possible steps and actions by the services.

According to the head of government, all responsible services are working and keeping the situation under control. At the same time, crisis services continue to monitor developments and provide operational data to the public in case of changes in the border-crossing and transit regime.

The situation will be improved through coordination between agencies and constant updating of information on border-crossing regimes with Belarus and restrictions on transit to Kaliningrad.