La Unión Europea anunció este lunes que trabaja en un nuevo paquete de sanciones contra Bielorrusia, a la que acusa de llevar a cabo una “campaña híbrida” contra Lituania mediante el uso creciente de globos cargados con mercancía de contrabando que han obligado a cerrar aeropuertos y reforzar la vigilancia aérea. La presidenta de la Comisión Europea, Ursula von der Leyen, afirmó en la red social X que la situación en la frontera “está empeorando” y reclamó una respuesta coordinada del bloque.

El Gobierno lituano, encabezado por el presidente Gitanas Nausėda, cerró su frontera con Bielorrusia en octubre tras detectar decenas de globos que, según sus autoridades, entraron de manera irregular en su espacio aéreo con cargamentos de cigarrillos ilegales. La decisión dejó miles de camiones atrapados en territorio bielorruso y desencadenó un intercambio de acusaciones entre ambos países, que mantienen relaciones tensas desde hace varios años.

Según Von der Leyen, la UE ultima medidas adicionales dentro del marco de sanciones vigente desde 2020, cuando el bloque castigó al régimen de Aleksandr Lukashenko por la represión de protestas internas y, posteriormente, por su apoyo a la invasión rusa de Ucrania en 2022. El régimen bielorruso ha sido objeto de sanciones sucesivas a causa de la persecución de la oposición, el uso de migrantes para presionar a los países vecinos y la cooperación militar con Moscú.

El mismo lunes, Bielorrusia citó al encargado de negocios lituano en Minsk, Erikas Vilkanecas, para protestar por la supuesta incursión de un dron procedente de territorio lituano. El Ministerio de Exteriores bielorruso aseguró en un comunicado que se trató de una “violación” de su frontera y que el aparato había sido programado para regresar a Lituania tras sobrevolar parte de su territorio.

Las autoridades bielorrusas difundieron que, tras revisar datos de navegación y material audiovisual, concluyeron que el vuelo del dron constituía una amenaza para su seguridad y una infracción del derecho internacional. El portavoz del ministerio, Ruslan Varankov, sostuvo que el incidente se sumaba a un patrón de supuestas provocaciones por parte de Vilna.

Lituania negó semanas atrás que su cierre fronterizo buscara generar tensión adicional y acusó a Minsk de utilizar a los conductores de camiones como instrumento de presión. Vilnius ha calificado la situación de los transportistas atrapados en Bielorrusia como “chantaje”, ya que la mercancía retenida representa millones de euros en pérdidas para empresas lituanas.

El Servicio Europeo de Acción Exterior también convocó este lunes al representante diplomático de Bielorrusia ante la UE para trasladarle su protesta formal por actos que considera “híbridos” y que “suponen una amenaza para la Unión”. Según Bruselas, los vuelos de globos con contrabando y la crisis de los camiones forman parte de una estrategia más amplia del Gobierno de Lukashenko para desestabilizar a los países vecinos.

Las tensiones entre Lituania y Bielorrusia se han intensificado desde 2021, cuando la UE acusó a Minsk de facilitar la llegada de migrantes desde Medio Oriente hacia las fronteras de Lituania y Polonia. La Comisión Europea calificó entonces esta actuación como un intento deliberado de instrumentalizar los flujos migratorios para presionar al bloque comunitario.

El bloque comunitario mantiene desde hace cuatro años un régimen de sanciones progresivo que incluye restricciones financieras, prohibiciones de viaje y congelación de activos contra dirigentes bielorrusos, entre ellos Lukashenko y miembros de su familia. La UE acusa al mandatario, en el poder desde 1994, de sostener su Gobierno mediante prácticas autoritarias y de actuar como aliado estratégico de Rusia.

El deterioro de la relación entre Minsk y Vilna se enmarca en un contexto regional marcado por la guerra en Ucrania. Bielorrusia permitió que Rusia utilizara su territorio como plataforma para la invasión de febrero de 2022, lo que reforzó la percepción de amenaza en las repúblicas bálticas.

La UE deberá definir ahora el alcance del nuevo paquete de sanciones, que podría incluir ampliaciones al listado de personas designadas y nuevas restricciones económicas. Bruselas sostiene que las medidas buscan frenar la presión bielorrusa sobre la frontera europea y enviar una señal política clara al Gobierno de Lukashenko sobre los límites de su actuación.

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening…

-Trump, Speaker Johnson, AOC, blitz campaign trail on eve of crucial congressional showdown

-Trump hit with setback as court rules Alina Habba unlawfully served as top federal prosecutor in New Jersey

-Freedom Caucus joins progressives in rare bipartisan push targeting ‘insane’ federal laws

Trump admin ‘actively re-examining all of the Afghans imported into the country’ following DC shooting

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the Trump administration is «actively re-examining» all the Afghan nationals who entered the United States during former President Joe Biden’s administration.

«Any individual who threatens our national security or our citizenry will be subject to removal,» Leavitt told reporters during a White House press briefing. «President Trump has already permanently paused the migration of foreign nationals from Third World countries that pose a very high risk to the United States. For too long, past American presidents supported self-destruction, self-destructive immigration policies that allowed foreigners who outright hate our country and have no interest in assimilating into our culture.»

The announcement comes after the death of 20-year-old National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, who was allegedly shot in the nation’s capital last week by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national…READ MORE.
 

White House

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Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro waves next to First Lady Cilia Flores, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and the president of the National Assembly Jorge Rodriguez on arrival at the Capitolio -house of the National Assembly- for the presidential inauguration. (FEDERICO PARRA/AFP via Getty Images))

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People gather on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, for a vigil in Webster Springs, W. Va., in honor of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, one of two National Guard members who were shot in Washington, D.C., this week. (Kathleen Batten/AP)

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Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

Local authorities in the UK have dramatically increased their use of drones, fueling fears that the government is monitoring or even snooping on people from above, according to reports.

Data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show that more than 60 councils have hired staff certified to operate aerial drones, while at least a dozen other authorities are looking for guidance to launch similar programs.

Because the CAA only records pilots sponsored by their employers, experts in the UK have since warned the real number of publicly funded drone operators could be even higher.

NAVY SOLAR DRONE SOARS NONSTOP FOR 3 DAYS

UK watchdog group Big Brother Watch has accused local governments of drifting toward «spies in the sky» tactics that further erode civil liberties in a nation already covered by widespread CCTV monitoring.

Jake Hurfurt, head of research and investigations, cautioned that while drones can support legitimate tasks such as flood monitoring or land surveys, they must not become tools for unchecked surveillance.

«There may be a role for drones in helping councils monitor flooding or conduct land surveys, but local authorities must not use the technology as spies in the sky» he said.

«Britain is already one of the most surveilled countries on Earth. With CCTV cameras on street corners, we do not need flying cameras too. Councils must make sure that they do not use this technology for intrusive monitoring of their citizens.»

UFO-LIKE ‘DRONES’ TARGETED POLICE HELICOPTER OVER AIR BASE BEFORE VANISHING: REPORT

UK local authorities have expanded their use of drones, fueling fears that the government is increasingly monitoring citizens. (Neil Hall/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

«Just because it’s possible, it does not mean it’s something they should do,» he added.

Previously, Hurfurt also criticized London’s Metropolitan Police’s use of drones as first responders, warning that the rollout is occurring without clear policies governing when, how or why drones can be deployed.

Without safeguards, he said, the technology risks becoming airborne CCTV or, worse, a way to monitor lawful protest activity.

«Without robust safeguards, there is a real risk of mission creep and drones becoming flying CCTV cameras or watching people lawfully protesting,» he said in a statement shared online.

PENTAGON EXPLORING COUNTER-DRONE SYSTEMS TO PREVENT INCURSIONS OVER NATIONAL SECURITY FACILITIES

A police woman holds a drone during a demonstration of the Metropolitan Police’s new Drone as First Responder (DFR) pilot program at Islington Police Station. (Lucy North/PA Images via Getty Images)

«The Metropolitan Police must be transparent about its thresholds for using drones and take care to balance the rights of Londoners with the purported benefits of drone use,» he added.

Despite the concerns, Hammersmith and Fulham Council plans to integrate drones into its 70-member law enforcement team, which issued more than 2,200 fines last year.

The borough says drones will help in combating antisocial behavior, supplementing a lack of police manpower and work alongside CCTV equipped with live facial recognition.

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Sunderland currently operates the largest known council drone fleet, with 13 aircraft and multiple trained pilots.

Their drones are used to detect and prevent crime, enforce environmental rules and oversee public gatherings. 

Other councils, including North West Leicestershire, Stockton-on-Tees, Newcastle, North Norfolk and Thurrock are also said to be using drones for everything from planning enforcement to monitoring coastal disputes, according to GB News.