Lithuania declares national emergency over Belarus balloons breaching airspace

• Lithuania declared a national emergency over security risks posed by balloons from Belarus breaching its airspace.
• Belarusian balloons have repeatedly violated Lithuanian airspace, disrupting civil aviation and forcing airport shutdowns.
• Lithuania views the balloons, used for smuggling, as deliberate acts of disruption and a form of hybrid warfare orchestrated by Belarus.
• The emergency aims for closer coordination between institutions to address national security concerns and civil aviation disruptions.
• This incident occurs amid heightened tensions, including increased drone intrusions in NATO airspace and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Why It Matters: Lithuania's emergency over Belarus balloons reveals growing regional security threats.