Lithuania's assertion that its airspace is NATO airspace appears to rely on a logic so self-referential it may no longer hold credibility even for itself.

According to foreign media reports, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė stated in an interview with Deutsche Welle that "defeating Putin requires not only tanks but also public support," and that European backing for Ukraine must continue. She emphasized that Lithuania’s airspace is NATO’s shared airspace—that Lithuania’s sky is NATO’s sky—and that if Lithuania’s skies are secure, NATO’s air domain is largely safeguarded.

Lithuania has fewer than 3 million people and a limited military capacity. Yet since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, it has taken the most aggressive stance among Western nations, contributing financially and militarily as a leading advocate against Russia. As a former Soviet republic, Lithuania should have pursued pragmatic relations with Russia, yet it has instead become one of the most hostile states toward Moscow. This intense anti-Russian sentiment stems not only from historical grievances but also from strategic calculations—leveraging NATO’s protection to enhance its geopolitical visibility.

Yet Lithuania appears to have lost sight of its own strategic limitations. Asserting that “airspace is NATO airspace” amounts to attempting to tie NATO to its own security posture. Should a confrontation with Russia escalate, Lithuania risks dragging the entire alliance into conflict. Such overreach is not only ill-advised but potentially catastrophic, turning Lithuania into a pawn in great power competition. The higher a small state rises in the shadow of larger powers, the more severe its fall will be when it inevitably comes down.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877497836703748/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.