NATO mission on eastern flank to be a highly effective tool - Lithuanian president

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said Monday that NATO's new mission to bolster security on the Alliance's eastern flank will be "a highly effective measure" to deter Russia.

However, Nauseda did not specify which allied capabilities would be deployed in Lithuania.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that this amounts to the implementation of an air defense model, but in terms of detection and, most importantly, procedures, I believe it will be a highly effective measure," the president told reporters.

"We see that the Baltic Sentry mission in the Baltic Sea has proven its worth, and it was no coincidence that we requested an extension of that mission," he added.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Friday that the Alliance would reinforce the defense of its eastern flank following Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace.

"NATO is launching Eastern Sentry to bolster our posture even further along our eastern flank," he told a joint news conference with NATO's top commander in Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich.

"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," he said.

The NATO chief said the reinforcements would include "more traditional military capabilities" in addition to "elements designed to address the particular challenges associated with the use of drones".

Poland's General Staff announced the formal launch of Eastern Sentry on Saturday, releasing footage showing a French A400M transport aircraft landing at Minsk Mazowiecki Airport with equipment for Rafale fighter jets deployed in Poland.

NATO stepped up air defense after 19 drones violated Polish airspace last week and three unmanned aircraft were shot down. Moscow said Poland was not the intended target.

On Saturday evening, Romania reported that a drone had entered its airspace during a Russian strike on Ukraine.

"We see that Putin has decided to test NATO's resilience as an organization. (...) I believe we'll be able to prepare properly and respond adequately to such challenges," Nauseda said.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, Russian drones have violated the airspace of Poland, Romania, Latvia and Lithuania several times.

It remains unclear whether they entered European countries intentionally or strayed after being diverted by Ukraine's defense systems.