A coalition of countries, including Poland, the Baltic states, Norway, and Finland, has committed to building a “drone wall” to secure their borders. On May 24, 2024, the Lithuanian government announced that it and five other NATO members neighboring Russia had agreed to create a “drone wall” to protect their borders from potential “provocations.”
Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite revealed the plan to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for border protection following discussions with her counterparts from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Norway, and Poland. “This initiative is unprecedented, a drone wall extending from Norway to Poland, designed to utilize drones and advanced technologies for border security,” Bilotaite told the BNS news agency.
The plan includes the use of physical infrastructure and surveillance systems, as well as drones and other technologies, to prevent provocations from hostile nations and curb smuggling activities.
The participating countries have agreed to evaluate the required measures and, with expert guidance, national authorities will draft a plan for implementing the “drone wall.” While Bilotaite could not specify a timeline for the project’s completion, she emphasized the potential use of EU funds to support this initiative.
The initiative to build the “drone wall” marks a significant advancement in the defense strategy of the Baltic countries and their Nordic allies against potential threats. These countries also aim to create specialized units within their border services dedicated to using UAVs for surveillance and defense against hostile drones. Lithuania has already established a special unit within its State Border Guard Service for these operations.