Lithuania's biggest airport shut by drone alert as PM presses Nato plan

Lithuania's largest airport was forced to close after a suspected drone, believed to have entered the country from Belarus, prompted the shutdown. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius used the incident to press Nato for a firm plan to respond to Russian hybrid attacks, warning that Moscow is willing to test the alliance.

Key facts

• Lithuania's biggest airport was forced to close over a suspected drone thought to have flown in from Belarus.
• In May, a drone alert in Vilnius sent residents to shelter and briefly grounded flights and rail travel.
• In September, a drone that violated Lithuanian airspace was shot down over the country's territory for the first time.
• Lithuania has allocated almost €5 billion (£4.2 billion) to defence this year, or 5.38% of its GDP.
• The country is holding military drills and rehearsing wartime evacuation plans.

What has happened at the airport?

The largest airport in Lithuania was forced to close because of a suspected drone that was thought to have flown into the country from Belarus. The source does not give the date of the closure, the name of the airport, how long it was shut or whether it has since reopened.

Why is Lithuania on alert?

Fears of drone attacks have risen this year. In September, a drone that violated Lithuanian airspace was shot down over Lithuanian territory for the first time, after similar incidents in Latvia and Estonia. In May, residents in Vilnius were forced to take shelter across the capital when a drone alert was triggered, briefly grounding flights and rail travel.

Lithuania, described as a staunch supporter of Ukraine, shares a large part of its southern and eastern border with Belarus, a key Russian ally. Military drone incursions have become increasingly common across Europe since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

What is the Suwalki Gap?

The Suwalki Gap is a corridor of land running along the Polish-Lithuanian border, spanning 40 miles as the crow flies, that connects the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to Belarus. It has long been seen as the weak point of Nato's eastern defences, because of the relative ease with which Russia could seize it in a pincer assault between Kaliningrad and Belarus.

Such a land bridge would effectively isolate Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — all Nato members — from the EU. US General Ben Hodges described the gap as "one of the most volatile points on the world map".

What is the Lithuanian government doing?

Sinkevičius called for a firm Nato plan to counter Russia's hybrid attacks. He also warned that a Russian victory in Ukraine would probably push Moscow to look for "other directions". Lithuania has been holding military drills and rehearsing wartime evacuation plans, and has allocated almost €5 billion (£4.2 billion) to defence this year — 5.38% of its GDP, compared with a UK spend of 2.6%.

What this means for travellers

Drone alerts in Lithuania have already caused short-notice disruption, shutting the country's largest airport and briefly halting flights and rail travel in Vilnius. Travellers with journeys to, from or within Lithuania may want to check the status of their flight or train with the operator before setting out. The source gives no current travel advice for visitors and no information on any continuing restrictions.

No date has been announced for any Nato response plan, and the source does not say when the airport closure ended or whether further closures are expected.