Lithuania will spend 1,100 million euros to strengthen the protection of its border with Russia and Bélarus, especially with anti -tank mines, the Ministry of Defense of this lateral country of NATO said on Monday.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, all bordering Russia, fear being the next objectives of this country if he won his war against Ukraine.
These three Baltic states, of the former Soviet Republic, strengthened their defense after the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army. Security measures also increased at their borders after an influx of migrants, according to them inspired by Moscow.
This new financial effort, distributed for 10 years, will allow Lithuania “to block and reduce the speed of hostile states,” said the Ministry of Defense in a statement on Monday.
In January, Lithuania had announced its intention to dedicate five to six percent of its GDP each year to its military expenses between 2026 and 2030.
Anti -Tank mines
The Ministry said that “intensive work” was underway to determine how “guarantee the integrity of the Baltic Defense Line.” He added that 800 million euros, in the total over 1,100 million euros, would be dedicated to the anti -tank mines.
Baltic states, Finland and Poland have also decided this year to abandon the Ottawa convention, which prohibits the acquisition, production, storage and use of anti -personal mines.
Human Rights Organizations, including Amnesty International and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), denounced this decision.
As part of the planned measures, Lithuania will store anti -tank weapons and erect other fortifications near the “Suwalki Corridor”, about 70 kilometers long, which joins Bénarus, an ally of Russia, with the Russian region of Kalingrad, along the border between Lithuania and Polandia.
Lithuania plans to deepen irrigation ditches that could serve as trenches, reforest border areas and plant trees on the main roads to protect civilians and military.
Additional measures include “electronic war capabilities, anti -drug systems and strengthening the observation system and early alert,” the ministry said.
Source: BFM TV
