Estonian MEP: NATO Article 4 should be invoked against Belarus

TALLINN - Estonian MEP and former commander of the Estonian defense forces Riho Terras said that the best way for Lithuania to cope with the current crisis would be to invoke Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, and that such a proposal should definitely also be supported by Estonia.

"There is a hybrid war underway on the Lithuanian border. It is a consistent attack through which the pressure on the Lithuanian state is gradually growing with each refugee flown in by Belarus from the Middle East and sent over the border. Involving NATO is the only right course of action here," Terras said.

Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty states: "The parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened."

Terras opined that the provision of help to Lithuania would also serve as deterrence to Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Members of NATO remaining united and indeed using the Alliance's articles to meet its objective to jointly and duly defend its member states would also increase our credibility in the eyes of opportunistic dictators. Attitudes towards Estonia may also change somewhat if we firmly have Lithuania's back," Terras said.