Lithuania has warned Russia that potential provocations could lead to the deployment of additional NATO forces and air defense assets in the country.
Lithuania
NATO might redeploy additional military forces and air defense capabilities to Lithuania if Russian provocations result in a critical escalation of the security situation.
This was stated by Deividas Matulionis, chief national security advisor to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, as reported by LRT.
According to him, allies are taking seriously the warnings about an increased risk of Russian provocations in the Baltic region and other European countries in the coming months.
“We have issued warnings, and the Alliance is treating this very seriously. If all indicators point to a critical situation, I have no doubt that additional forces and air defense assets will be allocated,” Matulionis stated.
Representatives from NATO’s eastern flank countries have previously cautioned that Russia might be planning provocations on their territory. In Lithuania, critical transportation and energy infrastructure have been identified as potential targets, with security measures already enhanced.
Matulionis suggested that provocations could include “false flag” operations intended to shift blame onto Ukraine, as well as sabotage similar to incidents previously observed in Europe.
However, the Lithuanian President’s advisor ruled out the possibility of a direct Russian invasion of a NATO country.
“There is no information about troop build-ups near our border, so the issue of military invasion is excluded. Its probability is practically zero,” he noted.
Matulionis added that potential Russian attacks can be prevented, and Lithuanian authorities are implementing necessary measures to avert provocations within the country’s borders.
Russia Could Attack Baltic States: What is Known
Previously, we reported that Putin is preparing for mobilization following the State Duma elections scheduled for September 18-20. Ukrainian and Western intelligence agencies and officials have been warning about this for a long time. Back in April, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that restricting access to social networks in Russia could indicate preparations for a general mobilization for a new major offensive against Ukraine or one of the Baltic countries.
Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas also issued a warning, stating that Russia is incapable of achieving its objectives in the war against Ukraine, thus the Kremlin might attempt to shift focus to a new direction. Poland and the Baltic states could become Moscow’s next targets.
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared that the threat to NATO countries from Russia will become a reality not in years, but within the next few months.
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