Lithuania Considers Reinstating Border Controls with Latvia Amid Migrant Surge

Lithuania is considering temporarily reinstating border controls on its border with Latvia, as the number of illegal migrants has risen sharply. These migrants enter Latvia via Belarus-backed routes and then proceed to Lithuania and other EU countries. Latvian authorities have reported a substantial increase in illegal border crossing attempts in recent weeks. The Belarusian regime is believed to be using migration as a hybrid warfare tool to pressure the EU. Lithuanian officials note a rapid rise in migrants who, after illegally entering Latvia, try to move onward. To strengthen Latvia's border defense, neighboring countries have already provided assistance: additional border guards from Lithuania and Estonia have been deployed on Latvia's eastern border. It is emphasized that the Belarus-Latvia border is also the external border of the EU and NATO.