Italian Jets Shoot Down Russian Drone Over Lithuania

Italian fighter jets scrambled from a base in Lithuania shot down a Russian drone carrying explosives after it entered Lithuanian airspace via Belarus. This incident marks one of more than 60 drone or missile incursions into NATO airspace.

The Government of Lithuania characterized the situation as dangerous, with the Minister of National Defence warning that the region is approaching a "hot phase" of escalation. While the specific intention behind this flight was not attributed, the Minister stated that if such an act is intentional, it constitutes an "act of aggression" that could trigger NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause.

In response to this incursion and previous disruptions to undersea infrastructure, Lithuania has increased its defense spending to 5.4% of its GDP. This move places the country in a "5% club" alongside Estonia, aimed at bolstering deterrence against Russia.