Lithuania to send border guards to assist Latvia against illegal migration

Lithuania will deploy nine border guards to Latvia in July to help secure its border with Belarus, the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) announced on Tuesday.

Latvia is currently facing significant pressure from illegal migration, with secondary migration flows through the country increasing more than fourfold this year, according to VSAT.

The Lithuanian officers, drawn from the Pagėgiai and Pakrantė border guard units, will assist Latvian colleagues with border surveillance, blocking illegal migration from Belarus, and other border protection measures in the most problematic sections. They will travel with their own service vehicles, equipment, and weapons, including two cynologists with service dogs.

The deployment is initially set for two weeks, with further decisions to be made based on the situation at Latvia’s border with Belarus. Lithuania previously provided similar assistance to Latvia in 2023–2025. All costs of the mission will be covered by Lithuania’s VSAT.

This year, Latvia has recorded 6,600 migrants attempting to cross from Belarus, with many being detained and returned or turned back by Latvian border guards. The influx of migrants into the EU’s eastern members via Belarus began in 2021, with Western officials accusing Minsk of orchestrating the flows.

Belarus shares a border with Latvia that is four times shorter than its border with Lithuania.