Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are working to jointly construct a fortified defence line along their borders with Russia and Belarus, Lithuanian Defence Ministry announced.
"Together with the Latvians and the Estonians, we are establishing a unified countermobility system along NATO’s eastern border in order to effectively resist the movement of a potential enemy across the border," the statement reads, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.
The project involves identifying key geographical locations where engineering obstacles will be connected across the three Baltic states, creating a continuous and reinforced defence barrier.
Lithuania alone is expected to invest €1.1 billion over the next decade in countermobility measures as part of the initiative.
Lithuania’s eastern borders — shared with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad region— also form the external frontiers of both the European Union and NATO.
Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, all three Baltic states have been steadily strengthening their defences. They have also tightened border security in response to what they claim was a Russia-orchestrated surge of migrants attempting to cross their borders.
In March 2024, the Latvian government approved its section of the joint Baltic defence line and committed €303 million over the next five years to its development.
As part of the plan, Latvia will construct a range of defence structures along its eastern border, including anti-tank ditches and strategically placed ammunition depots. Existing drainage ditches near the border will be transformed into fortified anti-tank trenches, reinforced with concrete blocks, dragon’s teeth, and anti-tank mines.
Additionally, Latvia has outlined rapid-response measures to disable critical transportation infrastructure—such as highways, railways, and bridges—in the event of a military threat, aiming to hinder any potential enemy advance.
By Sabina Mammadli
Source: caliber.az
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