Lithuania Boosts Defense Near Belarus Border
The fortified line will play a crucial role in protecting Lithuania's borders and enhancing the country's national security, with the increased defense spending demonstrating the country's commitment to its security and stability in the region near Belarus.
Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda has announced a significant increase in the country's defense spending to over 5% of its GDP from 2026, with a major focus on building a fortified line along its borders with Russia and Belarus to counter potential enemy movement.
The project involves connecting engineering hurdles at designated geographical points and will include the installation of anti-personnel mines, anti-tank ditches, mobile armored groups, and long-range artillery. This defensive line is estimated to cost EUR 1 billion and is expected to take up to two years to implement. The plan involves four lines of defense, with the first line featuring dragon teeth obstacles, anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, and razor wire, and the fourth line having air defense systems and self-propelled long-range artillery.
Lithuania will invest 1.1 billion euros over 10 years in the project, which is crucial as the border is NATO's eastern border and the EU's external border. The country's Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats propose creating this fortification line to enhance readiness for potential threats from Russia and Belarus. The increased defense spending and the construction of the fortified line demonstrate Lithuania's commitment to strengthening its national security and protecting its borders.
The implementation of this project will significantly enhance Lithuania's defense capabilities and provide an additional layer of security along its borders with Russia and Belarus. As the project progresses, it will be important to monitor its development and assess its effectiveness in deterring potential threats.