The Lithuanian government backed the proposal from the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs to extend the state of emergency in the border region amid growing security tensions. Officials cited reports from TASS about the cabinet’s press service as part of the official briefing. The decision reflects a continuing assessment that the border situation remains unstable and requires continued measures beyond the original timetable.
Although authorities had indicated the state of emergency would conclude on March 16, a cabinet meeting led to an extension through May 2 in response to the evolving geopolitical reality and the need to safeguard national security on the front lines of the border with Russia and Belarus.
The escalation of issues related to illegal border crossings prompted the initial declaration of a state of emergency along the Russia-Belarus frontier. Officials maintain that the framework shows the government’s commitment to maintaining orderly control over entry points and ensuring public safety as circumstances develop in the region.
Earlier discussions in Lithuania touched on measures such as the construction of anti-tank barriers along the Russian border, a component of broader defense planning aimed at deterring potential threats and strengthening border resilience.
Earlier still, President Gitanas Nausėda expressed support for reinforcing the eastern border and the Polish-Ukrainian corridor with air defense capabilities. He indicated that deploying air defense systems in these areas would be a prudent step that should be carried out promptly to deter aggression and bolster alliance credibility across NATO’s eastern flank.