Lithuania warns Russian sabotage on Baltic infrastructure would trigger NATO response

Lithuania’s foreign minister said any Russian sabotage causing damage or casualties on infrastructure linking the Baltics to Europe would be treated as an act of aggression. Kestutis Budrys made the statement in an interview with The Washington Times at the foreign ministry on or before July 17, 2026. He added that the response would include both national self-defense and NATO collective defense.

Washingtontimes.com reported that Lithuania’s intelligence services had detected Russia preparing such sabotage. President Gitanas Nauseda disclosed the warning earlier in the week. Budrys said the planning was approved at the highest levels in Moscow and linked it to Russia’s response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and pipelines.

The intelligence points to considerations regarding critical infrastructure in the Baltic region, with false-flag operations not excluded, Budrys stated. U.S. soldiers rotated out of Lithuania in June 2026.

The Pentagon has not stated whether or when replacements will arrive. Budrys said Lithuania is pressing for continued U.S. troop deployment and remains optimistic about a concrete timeline, format, size, and numbers.

Lithuania spends 5.4 percent of GDP on defense in 2026. Russia is redeploying forces on its western and northwestern flank, standing up new divisions facing the Baltics, Budrys added. He described the danger from Russia as growing rather than imminent.