Lithuania must urgently complete air defence upgrades, president warns

Lithuania needs to accelerate and complete air defence upgrades as efficiently as possible, President Gitanas Nausėda said Thursday, citing hybrid attacks and drone strikes as integral parts of Russia’s war against Ukraine, LRT reports.

Speaking at a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Helsinki, Nausėda stressed that Moscow’s aggression poses multifaceted threats to neighbouring states, including unconventional and conventional strikes. “What we must do is finish air defence work quickly and as effectively as possible,” he said.

The president acknowledged Lithuania’s current air policing model—designed for peacetime—was no longer sufficient. “We must transition to air defence suited to today’s conditions, covering both effective detection and interception capabilities,” he said, noting delays in implementing planned upgrades. He expressed confidence that, with partner support, Lithuania would achieve its goals, adding that the JEF had prioritised the issue.

Nausėda also said he expected air defence to feature prominently at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.

His remarks follow recent drone incidents in the Baltics. On Monday, a drone crashed into Lake Lavyso in Varėna district, posing no threat to residents. Latvia and Estonia also reported unauthorised drone entries on Wednesday night, with officials stating the three drones were Ukrainian, en route to Russia but off course. These events have intensified discussions on bolstering regional air defences.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas previously stated that Lithuania’s drone-detection radars—part of a broader unmanned aerial vehicle monitoring system—would arrive between 2026 and 2028, with full integration expected by 2030.