The Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have united to create a defense against the perceived threat from Russia and Belarus. As NATO and EU members, the three countries have signed agreements to strengthen their border security and establish a common defensive line, demonstrating regional solidarity and proactive defense.
Tensions in Eastern Europe have escalated following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prompting the Baltic nations to take significant steps to strengthen their defenses. Lithuania’s Defence Minister, Arvydas Anušauskas, was resolute in his statement, asserting that“With this initiative, we aim to create an effective set of counter-mobility measures in all three Baltic countries, which are among the most vulnerable to the Russian threat, to effectively disrupt and stop a potential enemy push across the border.”
The creation of defensive installations to hinder mobility, such as bunkers, support points, and distribution lines along their borders with Russia and Belarus, not only acts as a physical deterrent but also sends a strong political message. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis underscored the urgency of the move, saying, “This is also a political message – a message from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia that we feel a war coming to us.we understand that Russia will not be stopped in Ukraine, it will go further. And then the Baltic countries will be next,”
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said “It is a preparation for what could happen. And we hope that this will send a sufficient message to our friends and partners in Europe and NATO, that this needs to be taken seriously,”Landsbergis emphasized that all regional countries concur that the window for preparing against potential aggression is extremely limited.
The defence ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia signed an agreement for the co-development of the HIMARS high mobility rocket artillery systems.“The joint development of Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian defence capabilities is key to ensuring our regional security. Therefore, the Baltic states’ joint action in the development of the HIMARS capability is of paramount importance. We are actively cooperating with the US on HIMARS integration, personnel training, and maintenance,” Anušauskas said.
Experts at the US Institute of War Studies have noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently increased Kremlin efforts that could lead to future escalations against the Baltic states.”Russia’s war in Ukraine has shown that in addition to equipment, ammunition, and manpower, physical defensive installations on the border are also needed to defend Estonia from the first meter,” Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.
The concept of defensive installations is based on the decisions made at the NATO Summit in Madrid, which emphasized the need for allies to be prepared to defend their territory and develop new regional defense plans. The construction process will involve cooperation with local communities and the consent of landowners. The estimated initial cost of the Estonian defense facility is €60 million.The initial bunker will be finished in the first half of this year, and it will be unveiled to the public in the second half of the year.
Relevant articles:
– Baltics agree on common defence line on Russia, Belarus borders
– Baltic states to bolster border security with Russia, Belarus, Defense News, Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:51:43 GMT
– Baltic states to build new defences to bolster NATO’s eastern border, Euronews, Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:24:08 GMT
– Baltic Nations to Build Defense Network Along Borders With Russia, Belarus, The Moscow Times, Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:01:21 GMT