Silina has been first to offer support to Lithuanian PM after Belarusian hybrid attacks

RIGA - Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) was the first to offer support to Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene after the number of Belarusian smuggling balloons increased in Lithuania, Ruginiene told reporters on Thursday.

The Lithuanian prime minister arrived on Thursday for her first working visit in Latvia.

She revealed that the three Baltic heads of governments have a common telephone correspondence where the prime ministers communicate, and it was Silina who first approached Ruginiene with words of support and questions on how Latvia can help after the Belarusian hybrid attacks.

Ruginiene, on her visit to Latvia, also assured Silina that if something happened in Latvia, Lithuania would be there to support and stand by her.

In response to a journalist's question whether Latvia should also close its border with Belarus in solidarity with Lithuania, Silina stressed that Latvia's border was not currently under any direct threat. Only one border point is currently open on Latvia-Belarus border, which, according to Silina, leaves Latvia room for manoeuver in potential actions to ensure that Belarusian officials understand what signal is being sent. "Because if we lock this point, then they will have no access to Europe anywhere from our side," Silina explained.

At the same time, the Polish prime minister has assured the Lithuanian prime minister that Poland will postpone opening its borders with Belarus. Ruginiene expressed the hope that the Belarusian side will understand that the region will not tolerate any hybrid attacks.

At the press conference, the Lithuanian prime minister repeatedly stressed the importance of unity not only between Latvia and Lithuania, but also among the three Baltic states and Poland. "We can say that our citizens in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and also in Poland can feel safe because our countries are working together and coordinating their actions," said Ruginiene.

Both Ruginiene and Silina underlined the importance of unity, highlighting priority issues for the Baltics for the EU's multiannual budget.

As reported, the Lithuanian government decided on Wednesday to close its border with Belarus until November 30, with exceptions for certain groups of travelers, following last week's increase in the number of smuggled balloons from Belarus and disruption of operations of the Vilnius airport.