Europe on alert: Ursula von der Leyen urgently travels to Lithuania

According to Politico, Ursula von der Leyen is expected to meet with the leaders of the Baltic states to coordinate a response to security threats. European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius is also traveling to Lithuania.

Three officials familiar with the visit told Politico that the talks will focus on strengthening joint defense capabilities through European funding programs and military planning.

Lithuania raises alert over drone from Belarus direction

Lithuania declared an air alert on Wednesday after a stray drone was spotted near the border with Belarus, prompting the activation of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission.

The incident came after two Ukrainian drones intended for attacks on Russia crashed earlier this month into an empty oil storage facility in Latvia, triggering a political crisis and the collapse of the ruling coalition.

Last week, a NATO fighter jet shot down a drone in Estonia’s airspace.

“Russia’s public threats against our Baltic member states are completely unacceptable,” von der Leyen said on social media last week.