**Lithuania Closes Vilnius Airport Amid Drone Sighting, NATO Responds**
On Sunday, Lithuania's Vilnius airport was temporarily closed following a reported sighting of a drone in the country's airspace. The National Crisis Management Centre of Lithuania confirmed the closure, which lasted approximately one hour before the air alert was lifted and operations at the airport resumed.
In response to the potential threat, NATO summoned at least one fighter jet from Siauliai, a northern Lithuanian city where the Italian air force is currently stationed as part of the NATO Baltic Air Defence mission. This action underscores the heightened vigilance among NATO member states, particularly those situated along the alliance's eastern flank, where concerns over airspace violations have increased in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Reports indicate that several countries in the region have experienced incidents involving drones straying into their airspace, a situation linked to the broader geopolitical tensions stemming from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This incident in Lithuania reflects the ongoing security challenges faced by NATO allies in Eastern Europe.
Despite the airport closure, the Vilnius marathon, an event taking place in the capital on the same day, continued without interruption, as confirmed by the event's organizers. The swift response from Lithuanian authorities and NATO highlights the commitment to ensuring the safety of air travel and public events amid rising security concerns.
As the situation continues to evolve, Lithuania remains on alert for any further developments related to airspace security, reflecting the ongoing complexities of regional defense in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.