Belarus Pledges to Halt Smuggling Balloons Into Lithuania

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pledged to take action to stop weather balloons used by cigarette smugglers from crossing into Lithuania, according to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, John Coale. Speaking to Reuters in Vilnius after two days of talks in Minsk, Coale said Lukashenko promised to do “everything he could” to prevent the balloons from flying from Belarusian territory into neighboring Lithuania.

The balloon incursions have become a serious security and economic concern for Lithuania. Smugglers have been using weather balloons to transport illegal cigarettes across the border, a practice that has repeatedly disrupted aviation. In recent months, Vilnius airport has been forced to close more than a dozen times due to the presence of the balloons in controlled airspace, raising safety concerns and causing delays for passengers and airlines.

Lithuanian authorities have accused Belarus of deliberately facilitating the smuggling operations as part of what they describe as a “hybrid attack.” In response, Lithuania has declared a state of emergency and has asked parliament to authorize the use of military support to assist police and border guards in countering the smugglers. The issue has also drawn attention at the European Union level, highlighting growing tensions along the EU’s eastern border.

Lukashenko, however, has downplayed the situation, stating earlier in the week that Lithuania was exaggerating the scale of the problem. Despite this, Coale expressed cautious optimism following his meetings with the Belarusian leader. He said he believed Lukashenko was sincere in his efforts to reduce tensions and restore normal relations with neighboring countries, adding that resolving the issue would likely take time.

Coale also noted that Lithuania has already taken extensive measures to disrupt the networks receiving the smuggled cigarettes. According to him, both sides appear to be making efforts to address the problem. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on December 1 that conditions at the border were deteriorating and described the balloon incursions as a “completely unacceptable” hybrid attack by Belarus, underlining the broader geopolitical implications of the dispute.