Situation in Lithuania a hybrid attack by Lukashenko - Baltic defense ministers

TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Defense Kalle Laanet held a video meeting with his Latvian and Lithuanian counterparts Artis Pabriks and Arvydas Anusauskas on Thursday to discuss possible steps for improving security in the region in relation to the hybrid operation targeted at Lithuania.

"Lithuania is under a hybrid attack and it constitutes a security crisis that directly affects the Baltic states and our region more broadly," Laanet said. "The Estonian defense forces have already provided practical help to Lithuania and we're ready to continue it by sending our defense forces' unmanned aerial vehicles to Lithuania. Estonia is also ready to provide support in the conduct of tenders. In my opinion, we also need to seek support and help from our allies," he added.

As an initial measure, Estonia allocated 100 kilometers of barrier wire to Lithuania from the stocks of its defense forces to enable Lithuania to strengthen its border more rapidly. Estonia is also assisting Lithuania in its efforts to acquire supplementary amounts of said wire.   

"The current situation on the border is no ordinary migration crisis, it is a hybrid war against the stability of the European Union, NATO and particularly of the Baltic states. This hybrid attack requires a uniform and coordinated reaction from the Baltic states. We appreciate the solidarity and unity of Estonia and Latvia in the face of these threats," the Lithuanian minister of defense, Arvydas Anusauskas, said.

The defense ministers jointly acknowledged the severity of the security crisis and decided to further improve the coordination of their activities and response. Around 2,500 refugees have arrived in Lithuania over the past month, which is nearly 33 times more than last year and 66 times more than in 2019.