Turkey sends warning plane to Lithuania amid rising Russian airspace violations

Reuters reported the information.

Turkey’s Defense Ministry confirmed the temporary deployment of its AWACS aircraft to Lithuania, where it will operate between September 22 and 25. The move comes after Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, and Poland reported multiple cases of Russian drones and fighter jets violating their airspace in recent weeks.

Military officials say AWACS planes, designed to monitor low-flying drones that ground radars often miss, are central to NATO’s efforts to strengthen security on its eastern flank.

Poland has already shot down some of the drones, and Lithuania’s parliament has authorized its armed forces to take similar action against intrusions. Western officials believe Moscow is carrying out the violations to test NATO’s response.

The tensions have led Estonia and Poland to request consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which allows members to convene whenever one feels its security is threatened.

Turkey, home to NATO’s second-largest army, has maintained a delicate balance with Russia — condemning its invasion of Ukraine and arming Kyiv, while still preserving economic and diplomatic ties with Moscow.