Nausėda warns of possible Russian tactic behind drone incidents in Europe
Photo: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda (Getty Images)
Russia may use drones to keep European countries under constant pressure. Lithuania has suggested that Moscow may deliberately allow such incidents to occur, according to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda in an interview with the LRT TELEVIZIJOS program Dienos tema (Topic of the Day).
Nausėda said that drone incidents in Europe could be part of a broader Russian tactic. According to him, Moscow may be trying to put pressure on countries that actively support Ukraine without entering into open confrontation with NATO.
Nausėda noted that there could be more such incidents. He also pointed to Russia’s increasingly aggressive behavior.
"Russia’s behavior is becoming increasingly aggressive. This is increasingly pointing to a certain trend. Without wanting to enter into direct confrontation with NATO, Russia is trying to attack those countries that are the most committed supporters of Ukraine," the Lithuanian president said.
Drones may deliberately deviate from their course
According to Nausėda, not every incident involving Russian drones in Europe necessarily means a direct attack on NATO.
He suggested that Russia may deliberately allow drones to deviate from their planned routes. In that case, the drones could end up not only over Lithuania but also in other Baltic countries or Poland.
"Such incidents, such as the drone that was shot down recently and other drones, do not necessarily constitute a direct Russian attack against NATO," Nausėda said.
The Lithuanian president believes that Moscow may not currently be seeking a direct confrontation with the Alliance. At the same time, in his view, the Kremlin may use other means of applying pressure.
"Probably, at this stage, the Russians are not ready for this and do not want it. But it could be a deliberate allowance for a drone to deviate from its course and end up not necessarily in Lithuania, but in the territory of the Baltic countries or Poland, with the aim of keeping society in a state of tension," he said.
Nausėda added that such a situation is, in his view, beneficial to Russia.
As a reminder, a yellow air threat level was declared in Lithuania on the night of September 15. A drone then violated the country’s airspace. NATO fighter jets shot it down shortly afterward.
According to preliminary data, it was a Russian Gerbera drone that was likely initially heading toward Ukraine.
The Lithuanian side is currently analyzing the drone’s electronic components to determine its route and the circumstances under which it entered the country’s territory.
