Lithuania is set to allocate €1.1 billion to enhance its border security with Russia and Belarus, including the acquisition of anti-tank mines, as declared by the NATO member situated on the alliance’s eastern flank.
Tensions are high among Lithuania and its neighboring Baltic states, Latvia and Estonia—all bordering Russia—as they fear potential aggression if Russia prevails in its campaign against Ukraine.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the three countries have been intensifying their defense strategies and strengthening border security in response to what they describe as a Russia-driven surge of migrants.
This recent expenditure initiative aims to enable Lithuania to “impede and delay the maneuvers of hostile nations,” according to the defense ministry.
The ministry indicated that “intensive” efforts are underway to determine methods to “maintain the integrity of the Baltic defensive line.”
Of the total amount, €800 million is earmarked specifically for anti-tank mines.
Additionally, the Baltic states, along with Finland and Poland, have opted this year to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the acquisition, production, stockpiling, or use of anti-personnel mines.
These mines, often buried or concealed in the ground, can inflict severe injuries on victims who may not die immediately, with aid organizations highlighting their lasting effects on civilians.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the International Committee of the Red Cross, have criticized the move to exit the treaty.
As part of the proposed strategies, Lithuania will accumulate anti-tank systems and other defensive measures near the Suwalki Gap—a 70-kilometer-wide corridor linking the Baltic states with Poland.
This narrow land corridor is bordered by Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave on one side and Belarus on the other.
Lithuania’s plans include deepening irrigation ditches to function as trenches, reforesting border zones, and planting trees along critical roads to safeguard both civilians and military personnel.
Additional initiatives encompass “electronic warfare capabilities, anti-drone systems, and the enhancement of the observation and early warning system,” stated the ministry.
