Lithuania seeks NATO to bring down Russian fears on Baltic

Fighters from other NATO states have patrolled the skies over the Baltic states since they became part of the military alliance in 2004, as three former Soviet republics have no aircraft needed for patrols.

NATO aircraft “should not only patrol, but if necessary, destroy the stage”, Lithuania Defence Minister Laurenas Casciunas said.

He added that the decision-making process for this should be cut short so that this can be made possible.

His statements come after a Russian threat fell in Latvia on Saturday. Latvia's Armed Forces said the fears were of the Shahed type, Iranian production, equipped with explosive devices.

On Tuesday, Latvia's president, Edgars Rincevics, said his state is discussing the problem of Russian fears with his allies.

“We are raising this issue with our NATO partners regarding the protocols for preventing fears, calling for combat aircraft of the Allies to be used immediately after they see such fears approach our borders”, Rinkevic said.

Officials from the Baltic states have also called on NATO to locate air defence systems along the alliance's eastern border.

NATO states do not have enough air defence systems, but last year the alliance agreed on short-term differentials to back Russia.

In April, the Netherlands designed Patriot missile systems for exercise in Lithuania, but the Baltic states want to have permanent delocation in the region of air defence systems.

In early September, Poland's Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, said Varshava must have the right to bring down Russian missiles that threaten its territory from Ukrainian airspace. /Radio Europe Free