Lithuania questions whether 100 border guards can solve Latvia’s crisis

Lithuania’s Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas has expressed doubt that sending 100 border guards would resolve the migration crisis in neighbouring Latvia, LRT reports.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Katelynas said Lithuania is exploring ways to assist Latvia, including the possible deployment of border guards. However, he questioned whether the requested 100 officers would be sufficient to address the issue.

“We are evaluating the possibilities where we could deploy them, use them as support for Latvia, and we hope to find those opportunities,” the minister said. “Numbers were mentioned—100 border guards. But if 100 are truly needed to solve the problem, then perhaps Latvia could use its own military in peacetime to help.”

Katelynas emphasised that while Lithuania seeks to support its neighbour, the priority remains the security of its own borders and citizens. “We always want them to do the maximum they can, and we, as a state, will contribute as much as we are able. But my priority as minister is our borders and the safety of our people,” he said.

According to the State Border Guard Service, more than 8,000 migrants have attempted to enter Latvia this year, with most being stopped and returned to Belarus or turned back by Latvian border guards. This figure is nearly nine times higher than the number of attempts to enter Lithuania from Belarus.

Last week, Lithuania and Latvia signed a bilateral agreement on cooperation in combating crime, which is also expected to help tackle organised migrant smuggling networks.

Official data shows that secondary migration flows from Latvia to Lithuania have increased from just over 300 to more than 1,200 foreigners over the past six months compared to the same period last year.