Lithuania will spend 1.1 billion euros to strengthen the border with Russia and Belarus

Lithuania will spend 1.1 billion euros to strengthen the protection of its border with Russia and Belarus, notably with anti -tank mines, the Department of Defense of this country of the oriental side of NATO said on Monday.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, all bordering Russia, fear being the next targets of this country if it won its war against Ukraine. These three Baltic States, of former Soviet Republic, strengthened their defense after the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army. They also increased security measures at their borders after an influx of migrants, according to them inspired by Moscow.

This new financial effort, spread over 10 years, will allow Lithuania to “Block and slow down hostile states”detailed the Ministry of Defense on Monday in a press release. In January, Lithuania had announced its intention to devote five to six percent of its GDP each year to its military expenses between 2026 and 2030.

The ministry said that “Intensive work” were in progress to determine how “Ensure the integrity of the Baltic Defense line”. He added that 800 million euros, on the total envelope of 1.1 billion euros, would be devoted to anti -tank mines.

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 links Belarus, an ally of Russia, to the Russian region of Kaliningrad, along the border between Lithuania and Poland.

Lithuania plans to deepen the irrigation ditches which could serve as trenches, reforest the border areas and plant trees on the main roads to protect civilians and the military. Additional measures include “Electronic warfare capacities, antidron systems and the strengthening of the observation system and early alert”still according to the ministry.