Lithuania appeals to NATO for assistance in air defense operations due to the detection of drones - Lithuania demands air defense assistance from NATO following the detection of a drone
Lithuania, a Baltic NATO member state, has formally requested the alliance to boost and accelerate the deployment of enhanced air defense capabilities along its territory and the eastern flank of the alliance[1][2][3][4][5]. This urgent call comes in the wake of multiple incursions by Russian drones in 2025, including two significant incidents involving drones entering Lithuanian airspace and carrying explosives.
In a letter to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys and Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė urged immediate action to reinforce Lithuania’s air defense, including the accelerated implementation of NATO's rotational air defense model with combat aircraft and ground-based air and missile defense systems across vulnerable eastern member states[1][4].
The incidents that triggered Lithuania’s request include:
- On July 10, a Russian Gerbera drone entered Lithuanian airspace and crashed within national territory[2][4].
- On July 28, a drone carrying about 2 kilograms of explosives crossed from Belarus and crashed in a Lithuanian military training area[2][4]. This drone was suspected to be intended for Kyiv but unintentionally entered NATO airspace.
Lithuania emphasizes that the threat from drones is “real and growing” and calls for even experimental capabilities to address the evolving threat environment as the war in Ukraine continues[1][4]. While NATO has not publicly detailed a specific immediate operational response, Lithuania's request urges the alliance to treat securing its eastern flank and airspace integrity as a top priority amid increasing Russian aerial provocations[1][5].
In summary, Lithuania's current status is one of heightened security concern following confirmed Russian drone incursions, and its response is a formal diplomatic appeal to NATO for urgent reinforcement and acceleration of air defense deployments in the Baltic region to mitigate these threats.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/lithuania-asks-nato-boost-air-defense-after-russian-drone-incidents-2021-08-19/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58088415 [3] https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/08/19/lithuania-asks-nato-to-boost-air-defenses-after-russian-drone-incidents/ [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/lithuania-asks-nato-boost-air-defense-after-russian-drone-incidents-2021-08-19/ [5] https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/08/19/lithuania-asks-nato-to-boost-air-defenses-after-russian-drone-incidents/
Community policy should address the pressing issue of enhanced air defense capabilities and their deployment for member states like Lithuania, considering the ongoing war-and-conflicts and political implications. The employment policy within NATO must prioritize and accelerate the implementation of air defense solutions to ensure the safety and integrity of general-news member states, especially those on the eastern flank, in response to escalating threats from drones, as emphasized by Lithuania.
