Lithuania is developing criteria for requiring NATO assistance on the Belarusian border

“Specific criteria have been agreed that would require additional assistance in turning to NATO and activating certain (..) articles,” Darius Kuliešius, President Gitan Nauseda’s chief national security adviser, told reporters after the council meeting.

He added that before such a decision would be taken, an agreement would be reached between all the highest officials of the country, but he did not comment on the criteria themselves, stating that they are part of Lithuania’s national security tactics.

–

The tensions of illegal migration experienced by the European Union’s (EU) countries bordering Belarus for several months intensified this week, with large numbers of migrants concentrating on the Polish border in Belarus and attempts to break into Polish territory violently.

The EU accuses the Minsk regime of seeking revenge for supporting the Belarusian opposition and of sanctions against Belarus in response to the violent crackdown on protests last year.

–

This week, on the recommendation of the government, the Lithuanian Seimas decided to impose an intensified state of emergency in the municipalities along the Belarusian border, as well as in the accommodation of illegal migrants, for one month. Lithuania has also sent additional police and troops to the Belarusian border.