Lithuania urges NATO stronger response after Romania drone strike

VILNIUS - Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said NATO must respond more forcefully and increase pressure on Russia after a drone strike hit an apartment building in Romania.

According to the minister, it is essential to strengthen air defences across NATO’s entire eastern flank, including counter-drone measures and an expanded "Eastern Sentry" mission.

"We have success stories. The way NATO responded to incidents in Poland showed that it is possible to push those incidents away from the border and force Russia to take more precautions. Those decisions must be made along the entire frontline," Budrys said.

Recently, drone incursions have also been recorded in the Baltic states and Finland. According to Budrys, the European Union should also play an important role, particularly in financing counter-drone and resilience-building measures and involving Ukraine in these solutions.

The minister also said NATO air policing missions should be bolstered by increasing the number of fighter jets and border patrols to achieve a greater deterrent effect.

"We have the opportunity to show that there is a certain price. Not necessarily by striking back, but by increasing the number of fighters, increasing patrols and increasing pressure right at the border. That is how we must react," he said.

Meanwhile, addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement that Russia is capable of destroying those who attempt to attack the Kaliningrad region, Budrys said this was Kremlin propaganda and that Lithuania’s primary interest is strengthening deterrence.

"We should not get involved in interpreting Russian propaganda. (...) We all understand that Russia does not need rhetorical justifications or reasons to start something. They will invent whatever reasons they want if they have the will and the capability," Budrys said.

He also recalled that NATO has all the capabilities to neutralise threats in Kaliningrad, to which Moscow previously responded with threats to "level to the ground" those who would attempt to do so.