Lithuania’s Deputy Minister of National Defence, Tomas Godliauskas, has cautioned that Russia is probing the resolve and response mechanisms of NATO member states along its eastern flank. In an interview with “Welt”, Godliauskas emphasized that Moscow appears to be testing the solidarity of the alliance and evaluating how it reacts to provocations.
Discussions are currently underway regarding the reinforcement of NATO’s eastern edge, particularly for nations bordering Russia and Belarus. Concerns are heightened regarding potential threats in shared airspace. Efforts are being explored to determine appropriate countermeasures for responding to such provocations. As part of these efforts, Lithuania will now permit the deployment of drones even during peacetime.
Godliauskas noted that the perceived threat from Russia is not a new development for the region. He highlighted a pattern of escalating actions, including cyberattacks, sabotage of critical infrastructure, GPS interference and disinformation campaigns. This ongoing situation is fostering a growing awareness of the need to enhance capabilities and deploy the necessary tools to effectively counter these threats.
Regarding recent drone activity, Godliauskas stated that Lithuania, along with Poland and Latvia, has observed drones believed to be originating from Russia, likely intended for use in Ukraine. These drones have been disrupted or diverted through electronic warfare systems developed by Ukraine, subsequently entering NATO territory, frequently traversing Belarusian airspace.
Poland has reportedly received advance warnings from Belarus concerning the movement of these drones. Lithuania maintains a direct communication channel, or “hotline” with Belarus to facilitate information sharing related to such incidents, a development deemed positive for de-escalation and situational awareness.
