Lithuania prepared to down drones even with costly missiles, president says

Lithuania is determined to shoot down any aircraft violating its airspace, even if it requires using expensive missile systems, President Gitanas Nausėda said Wednesday, following two recent drone incursions that triggered air raid alerts.

“The cost of interception is not our primary concern—we are prepared to use high-value systems to destroy the aircraft, because human lives and health are our top priority,” Nausėda told reporters after a meeting of the State Defence Council, as quoted by LRT.

The president confirmed that Lithuania’s air defence and detection systems are operational and undergoing intensive testing to ensure they function under varying weather conditions and at different ranges. “Some equipment proves less effective, while other tested systems show real potential for deployment,” he added.

His remarks follow a Tuesday meeting in Vilnius between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the leaders of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. According to Nausėda, von der Leyen pledged to accelerate initiatives like the European Drone Shield and the Eastern Flank Watch program, which he called “critical” for securing long-term funding.

Russia’s desperation raises risks of provocation

Nausėda warned that Russia’s worsening economic situation, shifting public sentiment, and stalled advances in Ukraine could lead to increased provocations against the Baltics, including disinformation campaigns. “A wounded beast is always more dangerous,” he said, urging unity with NATO and EU partners.

His comments came after Reuters reported Tuesday that NATO plans to establish a new command structure enabling rapid deployment of German and Dutch troops to Latvia and Estonia in the event of conflict with Russia.

“NATO has sufficient grounds to believe the geopolitical situation is escalating,” Nausėda said, noting that while a large-scale military campaign against the Baltics remains unlikely, the risk of smaller provocations—triggering NATO’s collective defence mechanisms—is growing.

He acknowledged that the U.S. role in European security remains uncertain under a potential second Trump administration, which has signalled a reduced American presence. “How capabilities will ultimately be distributed in the Baltics depends largely on the future deployment of U.S. forces in the region,” he said.