Lithuania also recently summoned the Belarusian ambassador to Vilnius over balloons interfering with traffic at its capital’s airport.
The cigarette-smuggling balloons were transporting cheaper products into the EU, where tobacco is pricier, from Belarus.
The head of Lithuania’s national crisis management centre, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, described the latest balloon incursion as “the most intense this year”.
Lithuania responded by shutting two border crossings with Belarus, Lithuania’s border guards said.
A Nato official said: “Two Spanish Euro Typhoon fighter jets, which are deployed to the Lithuanian airbase of Siauliai as part of Eastern Sentry, were scrambled and flew to the site of this airspace violation.
“This is another demonstration of Nato’s readiness to respond to any developments and ability to ensure the safety of the Alliance’s airspace.”
