Lithuania has presently 2 main intersecting roads Suwałski Pass: 1 moving from Kowna to Warsaw, which is part of Via Baltica's military corridor, and another, ordinary, between Vilnius and Augustov.
According to Politico, in agreement with the Polish authorities, Lithuania is presently to take action to expansion of the military infrastructure network outside Via Balticaby modernization of Vilnius-Augustes road to dual-use standards for both civilian and military purposes.
– These roads are critical for us from a safety and defence perspective. They have always been part of our civil-military planning as key land routes for allied support during the crisis," said Deputy Minister of Defence of Lithuania Tomas Godliauskas in an interview with the portal.
Lithuania plans to modernise the way through Suwalski Pass
Currently Via Baltica and Rail Baltica line – a task to build fast rail connections from the Baltic countries to Poland – are the main channels of military mobility. The aim is to improve the movement of goods, facilitate the movement of troops and support possible civilian evacuations in the event of war.
– It's just another option to guarantee better logistics erstwhile needed – indicates Godliauskas.
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This effort is part of the wider European efforts to invest in dual-use infrastructure. Countries specified as Spain, Belgium and Slovakia carry out akin modernisations. According to estimates cited by EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, urgent adaptation of railway, road, sea and air corridors will should be spent at least EUR 70 billion.
In addition to improving mobility, the task in Suwałki may besides include fresh border safety measures.
– Especially in the Suwałk region there is talk of fresh safety at the borders with Królwiec and Belarus - noted Godliauskas, mentioning discussions on the deployment of anti-mobility elements close or at borders, specified as traffic control points and blocking systems, including cement barriers.
Repair of Vilnius-August route. Lithuania will ask Poland to support
The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Defence of Lithuania stressed that ensuring freedom of movement of troops and goods along both roads is simply a precedence and added that specified operations will most likely be closely monitored by Russia.
– We talk about how to deal with forging the GPS signal and jamming the signal by Russia, which already affects our civilian aviation and navigation systems – he mentioned.
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The full scope of the task includes the reconstruction of a 113 km long road and the renovation of 8 bridges. Work is to be completedat the earliest until 2028. Lithuania hopes that EU backing will be available for the implementation of the project.
– We will invest in an episode to the Lithuanian border and we ask Poland to upgrade its side of the Augustowska roadto meet standards of military mobility, announced Godliauskas at the same time.
Polish officials have not yet responded to Reuters' agency's request for comment.
Suwałski Pass is simply a sparsely populated, 100-kilometre long of wooded flat terrain connecting Poland and Lithuania, bordering with Kremlin's ally – Belarus and Russian exclave – the royal circuit. It is considered to be 1 of NATO's most susceptible points, serving as a key land corridor linking the Baltic States to the remainder of the alliance.
