NATO's Rutte highlights stronger air defence and counter-drone measures after Italian jets shoot down drone in Lithuanian airspace

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted the September 15 interception of a drone in Lithuanian airspace by Italian fighters deployed from Šiauliai as an example of collective defense. Meeting Lithuania's prime minister, he said the alliance is strengthening integrated air and missile defense and adapting its counter-drone posture through efforts including Drone Edge. NATO has not publicly attributed the aircraft, so the incident supports calls for faster detection and response without establishing who launched it or why. Lithuania's planned 5.38 percent defense-spending level and support for Ukraine formed the wider context of Rutte's remarks.