Callas called on the EU to oppose Belarus's use of migration
The Belarusian regime is using illegal migration as a tool to exert pressure on EU countries, particularly Lithuania. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas called on European states to jointly counter Minsk’s actions.
According to Kallas, Alexander Lukashenko’s regime is using flows of illegal migrants as a weapon against Europe. Lithuania remains one of the countries directly facing such pressure.
The head of European diplomacy drew particular attention to the infrastructure used for illegal border crossings. In her view, the complexity of setting up such routes indicates that assistance to migrants is organized.
“The sophistication of the tunnels used to smuggle migrants points to organized support and is strong evidence that Minsk is facilitating this,” Callas wrote.
The EU High Representative emphasized the need to counter the use of migration as a weapon and to support EU member states that are directly confronted with such actions by the Belarusian regime.
“The security of Lithuania’s borders is a shared European responsibility. We must accelerate the implementation of the ‘Eastern Flank Watch’ initiative, working closely with NATO, and continue to apply pressure through sanctions,” Kallas noted.
The issue of Minsk using migration to exert pressure on neighboring European Union countries has been ongoing for several years. Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland have repeatedly accused the Belarusian authorities of organizing migrant flows toward their borders.
Against this backdrop, Kallas called not only for strengthening the protection of the EU’s external borders but also for maintaining sanctions pressure on the Belarusian regime. She also emphasized the need for close coordination between European countries and NATO as part of protecting the eastern flank.
Earlier, Lukashenko made a sudden trip to Russia to meet with Putin.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented for the first time on CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow, stating that his trip was “semi-routine” in nature.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe did not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow.
John Ratcliffe, Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, arrived in Moscow on August 25 aboard a C-17 Globemaster III strategic military transport aircraft. Government aircraft could have been used for the senior U.S. official’s trip, but this time a much more powerful military aircraft was chosen.
