Lithuanian president urges calm as military reinforces Russian border

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has called on citizens not to fear the heightened security presence along the nation's border with Russia, characterizing the military deployments as a necessary pre-emptive strategy against potential incidents. "It is better to take additional security measures in good time to prevent risks than to react late," Nausėda said, addressing public concerns over the defense footprint.

In addition to border security, Nausėda addressed broader defense vulnerabilities across the Baltic state. He acknowledged that Lithuania's air defense system remains imperfect and pointed to delays in joint drone manufacturing ventures with Ukraine. The president also touched upon internal friction within the national defense establishment, including organizational challenges between the defense ministry and military leadership following recent controversies.

Sources: 15min, LSM