NATO Troops Take Action After Lithuania Is Invaded By Dozens Of Belarusian Air Balloons Allied To Russia

JAKARTA - NATO expressed its support if Lithuania took firm action against Russia's ally, Belarus, for the recent violation of airspace.

Dozens of helium balloons containing smuggled cigarettes from Belarus entered Lithuania last week forcing the closure of two airports in the country. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte supports Lithuania's efforts to defend itself.

"NATO supports Lithuania," said Rutte on his X account on Tuesday local time.

He said NATO had acted on the violation of the airspace by increasing its troop preparedness in Lithuania.

"Including through air surveillance currently provided by Spain and Hungary as well as NATO troops led by Germany," he said.

Rutte also claimed to have communicated with President Lithuania Guitanas Nauseda about the incident that the EU called a "hybrid attack".

Lithuania, a member of NATO and the European Union (EU), has issued a firm policy as a result of this incident by closing its two border crossings with Belarus.