Lithuania has cautioned Russia that potential provocations could lead to the deployment of additional NATO forces and air defense assets in the country.
Lithuania
NATO may transfer additional military forces and air defense capabilities to Lithuania if Russian provocations cause a critical escalation of the security situation.
This was stated by Daivydas 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 taking 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 of NATO’s eastern flank countries have previously warned that Russia might be preparing provocations on their territory. In Lithuania, critical transport and energy facilities have been identified as potential targets, and security measures have already been enhanced there.
According to Matulionis, provocations could include “false flag” operations aimed at shifting blame to Ukraine, as well as sabotage similar to incidents previously recorded in Europe.
At the same time, 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 ruled out. Its probability is practically zero,” he noted.
Matulionis added that potential Russian attacks can be prevented, and Lithuanian authorities are taking necessary measures to avoid provocations on the country’s territory.
Russia May Attack Baltic Countries: What is Known
Earlier, we wrote that Putin is preparing for mobilization after the 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 general mobilization for a new large-scale offensive against Ukraine or one of the Baltic countries.
Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas also issued a warning, stating that Russia is unable to achieve its set goals in the war against Ukraine, so the Kremlin might try to shift attention to a new direction. Poland and the Baltic states could become Moscow’s next targets.
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated 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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