Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and Belarus’s close ties with Moscow have significantly increased security concerns on Europe’s eastern borders. In light of these concerns, the Lithuanian government is planning to strengthen its border regions with Belarus and Russia over the next decade. Over 1 billion Euros decided to make an investment. This comprehensive plan also includes the purchase of new generation mines and their placement in strategic border areas.
Mines Will Stop “Occupying Forces”
The official statement made by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense on May 5 emphasized that the mines in question are intended to restrict and slow down the movements of potential invading forces. “Counter-mobility measures are an important part of our national defense concept. In the event of aggression, they will allow to prevent and slow down the actions of enemy states against Lithuania,” the ministry statement said. This statement is considered as part of Lithuania’s strategy to create deterrence and increase its defense capabilities against a possible military threat.
Details of the Huge Investment: Mines, Electronic Warfare and Drone Defense
According to a report published by Defense News, the planned investment of 1 billion Euros More than 800 million euros will be directly allocated to the purchase of mines and related systems. This large budget aims to reduce the effects of a potential attack by placing modern and effective mines in Lithuania’s border areas. The rest of the investment will be used to prioritize critical areas such as the acquisition of electronic warfare and anti-drone systems, strengthening surveillance and early warning systems in border areas, and increasing the mine clearance capabilities of the Lithuanian Army. This multi-faceted approach aims to support Lithuania’s border security not only with physical barriers, but also with technological superiority.
Baltic Defence Line Project: Partnership with Estonia and Latvia
Instead of acting alone, Lithuania is also working closely with other Baltic countries, Estonia and Latvia, to prevent possible enemy attacks with a common defence strategy. In this context, it aims to strengthen NATO's eastern border. Baltic Defence Line project “Intensive work is being carried out to determine the geographical points where the countries’ engineering barriers should meet to ensure the integrity of the Baltic Defence Lines,” the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence said in a statement on the subject. This joint defence line project reflects the desire of the three Baltic states to take a coordinated and integrated approach to border security.
Decision to Withdraw from the Ottawa Convention and Discussions
These border strengthening initiatives by Lithuania are part of the government’s efforts to strengthen borders with Latvia, Poland and Estonia. withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines The announcement comes just days after the Latvian parliament voted to formally withdraw from the Ottawa Convention last month, joining Finland, which announced its intention to withdraw on April 1. Finnish and Latvian officials argue that their countries need to reassess their defence strategies to respond more effectively to potential military threats. But the use of mines has raised serious concerns among international human rights groups, who have warned for decades that unexploded ordnance poses a risk to civilians. The situation suggests that Lithuania must consider the delicate balance between its defence needs and international humanitarian norms.
Security Concerns and the Quest for Regional Stability
Lithuania’s €1 billion budget to strengthen its borders with Belarus and Russia, as well as its plans to deploy mines, are a concrete indication of deepening security concerns in the region. Russia’s aggressive foreign policy and Belarus’s close alliance with Moscow are pushing border countries like Lithuania to take proactive steps to ensure their own security. Regional cooperation initiatives such as the Baltic Defence Line project reflect these countries’ desire to act together against common threats. However, the decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention and the debate over the use of mines also raise the ethical and humanitarian dimensions of defensive measures. How Lithuania will strike this difficult balance and the long-term effects of these steps on regional stability are important developments that need to be closely monitored.
