Russian News
MILPLEX
Lithuania to spend $1.2 bn to fortify Russia, Belarus border
Lithuania to spend $1.2 bn to fortify Russia, Belarus border
by AFP Staff Writers
Vilnius (AFP) May 5, 2025

NATO member Lithuania on Monday said it will spend 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) to fortify its border with Russia and Belarus, with the bulk of this sum used to buy anti-tank mines.

Lithuania, which is on NATO's eastern flank, and fellow Baltic states Latvia and Estonia -- all bordering Russia -- fear they could be next in Moscow's crosshairs were it to win its war against Ukraine.

All three countries have been ramping up defences since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and boosted border security over what they allege was a Russia-inspired influx of migrants at the border.

The latest spending push would allow Lithuania to "block and slow down the actions of hostile states", the defence ministry said.

It added that Lithuania would "allocate approximately 1.1 billion euros to the countermobility project over the next 10 years".

In January, Lithuania announced plans to spend an annual five to six percent of its GDP on defence from 2026 to 2030.

The defence ministry said "intensive" work was ongoing to identify how to "ensure the integrity of the Baltic defensive line".

It said 800 million euros of the overall sum would be spent on anti-tank mines.

The Baltic states also joined Finland and Poland in deciding this year to leave the Ottawa Convention that bans acquiring, producing, stockpiling or using anti-personnel mines.

The mines, designed to be buried or hidden on the ground, often mutilate victims, who do not immediately die, and aid groups denounce their long-term impact on civilians.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), have condemned the decision to abandon the treaty.

As part of the planned measures, Lithuania will stockpile weapons like anti-tank systems and harden defences near the so-called Suwalki Gap -- a strategically important area where Lithuania borders Poland.

The stretch of land is flanked by the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on one side and by Moscow's ally Belarus on the other.

Military strategists say it is the Achilles' heel of NATO's eastern flank since its capture would cut off the alliance's three Baltic members.

Lithuania plans to deepen irrigation ditches that could serve as trenches, reforest border areas and plant trees on key roads to protect civilians and the military.

Additional measures include "electronic warfare capabilities, anti-drone systems and the strengthening of the observation and early warning system", the ministry said.

Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
MILPLEX
Hegseth revises U.S. Army blueprint to 'ensure peace through strength'
Washington DC (UPI) May 3, 2025
Changing military technologies, tactics and challenges require the U.S. Army to eliminate waste and modernize its capabilities to ensure "peace through strength," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced. "To build a leaner, more lethal force, the Army must transform at an accelerated pace by divesting outdated, redundant and inefficient programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems," Hegseth said Wednesday in a memo to senior Pentagon leadership.. The goal is t ... read more

MILPLEX
Trump tells India and Pakistan to 'stop' clashes

Putin, Xi, Steven Seagal and missiles: Russia's Red Square parade

China congratulates Pope Leo on election, hopes for 'dialogue'

Moscow says 'no reason' to expect better German relations as Xi heads to Moscow

MILPLEX
North Korea's Kim Jong Un oversees nuclear counterattack missile test

Pakistan says India has brought neighbours 'closer to major conflict'

Iran says nuclear talks 'difficult but useful', US 'encouraged'

NIKE laser realigns mission to support US nuclear deterrence goals

MILPLEX
Tiangong returns largest sample set yet for biological and materials science research

Space is a place to found a community not a colony

China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts return to Earth

New Shenzhou Crew Begins Handover Operations Aboard Tiangong

MILPLEX
Traditional culture, fancy dress meet at Hong Kong's raucous bun festival

9 dead, dozens hurt after boats capsize in China: state media

Bad weather postpones return of Chinese astronauts to Earth

New York ex-cop jailed for hounding US residents for China

MILPLEX
Chinese EV battery giant CATL aims to raise $4 bn in Hong Kong IPO

Fusion modeling breakthrough accelerates stellarator design and confinement accuracy

'Cold' manufacturing approach to make next-gen batteries

UT Austin researchers advance magnetic fusion design with new confinement method

MILPLEX
MILPLEX
Space Laser Communication Terminal Prototypes Enter Phase 2 for Advanced On-Orbit Crosslink Compatibility

China launches advanced Tianlian II-05 relay satellite to boost space communications

Sidus Space awarded US patent allowance for modular satellite system

HRL and Boeing advance quantum satellite communications milestone

MILPLEX
Lithuania's parliament votes to withdraw from landmines treaty

Denmark to add 5,000 military positions

Nordics, Lithuania plan joint purchase of combat vehicles

Germany leads allies in $24B military aid package for Ukraine

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.