"This is a provocation, a hybrid threat that we cannot tolerate," Von der Leyen stated during a press conference in Stockholm alongside Nordic leaders, within the framework of the Nordic Council summit. The European leader stated that these actions reinforce the need to accelerate the European rearmament plan for 2030 and to advance in the creation of a joint anti-drone system.
Lithuanian authorities closed their border with Belarus on Sunday after detecting new balloons — allegedly meteorological and used for cigarette smuggling — crossing into their territory. "Regardless of what they are, we will not tolerate any incursion into our airspace," Von der Leyen emphasized, showing her support for Lithuania.
The incidents come just weeks after the sighting of unidentified drones in Denmark, near military facilities and airports, events that Copenhagen described as part of a hybrid attack. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen acknowledged the difficulty of attributing direct responsibilities, although she pointed to a "professional actor," implicitly referring to Russia. These events revive European concerns about air safety and hybrid threats seeking to destabilize the continent through technological provocations and disinformation campaigns.