Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda on Monday welcomed NATO’s new mission to reinforce defences on the alliance’s eastern flank, calling it “a highly effective measure” to deter Russia.
Nausėda did not specify which allied capabilities would be deployed in Lithuania but said the plan would strengthen detection and response procedures.
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that this amounts to the implementation of an air defence model, but in terms of detection and, most importantly, procedures, I believe it will be a highly effective measure,” Nausėda told reporters.
He noted that NATO’s Baltic Sentry naval mission had “proven its worth” and said Lithuania had requested its extension.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced Friday that the alliance would launch a new operation, dubbed Eastern Sentry, following recent Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace.
“This military activity will commence in the coming days and will involve a range of assets from allies including Denmark, France, the United Kingdom and Germany,” Rutte said at a joint news conference with NATO’s top commander in Europe, US Gen. Alexus Grynkewich.
Rutte said the reinforcements would include “more traditional military capabilities” as well as assets to counter drone threats.
Poland’s General Staff formally launched Eastern Sentry on Saturday, releasing video of a French A400M transport aircraft arriving with equipment for Rafale fighter jets at an air base east of Warsaw.
NATO has strengthened air defence since 19 Russian drones violated Polish airspace last week, three of which were shot down. Moscow claimed Poland was not the intended target. On Saturday, Romania also reported a drone entering its airspace during a Russian strike on Ukraine.
“We see that Putin has decided to test NATO’s resilience as an organisation,” Nausėda said. “I believe we’ll be able to prepare properly and respond adequately to such challenges.”
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, drones have strayed into Poland, Romania, Latvia and Lithuania on several occasions. It remains unclear whether they were deliberately sent or diverted by Ukraine’s air defences.
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