Stronger defence of the borders of Lithuania

polska-zbrojna.pl 3 weeks ago

Lithuania will set up a fresh ground close the Suwałki Pass, designed for military exercises at brigade level – announced Deividas Matulionis, chief advisor to the president of Lithuania on safety issues. It is not the only investment in the west of the country – the Lithuanians besides plan to double the surface area of the camp in Taurogy.

Lithuanian SOP soldiers in practice. Illustration picture.

The fresh camp is to be built close Kapčiamestis (Kopciowo), located a fewer kilometres from the border with Poland and Belarus. – According to the Lithuanian armed forces, the chosen location is the most suitable for both military and national security. It is located on the so-called. Suwałki pass – told journalists Deividas Matulionis after the December gathering of the State Defence Council. The defence of this corridor, according to the Lithuanian advisor of the President, will be the subject of peculiar attention from Lithuania, Poland and NATO, and the creation of a camp will strengthen safety in this part of the country. This is simply a narrow belt of territory on the border of Poland and Lithuania. It separates Belarus and Russia's princely region. In the narrowest place, the borders of these countries are only 65 km in a consecutive line. The plans of the Lithuanian State Defence Council besides supply for a two-fold extension of the camp area in Taurogy, which lies just close Królewiec.

These actions form part of the broader strategy of the Republic of Lithuania, which strengthens its defence capabilities, upgrading the army, expanding its numbers or beginning up to abroad allies. This year the German armored brigade started operating in Lithuania (up to 2027 it is expected to have 5,000 soldiers and employees of the Bundeswehr). There are besides about a 1000 US Army soldiers stationed in Lithuania and Abrams tanks are located.

RECLAMA

The Lithuanian Government intends to spend EUR 4.79 billion on defence next year, or 5.38% of GDP. In the coming years, the army will gain completely fresh capabilities through the acquisition of, among others, 8 HIMARS launchers, 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks, 100 combat CV90 infantry cars or 58 self-propelled Haubic 155 mm Caesar Mk II. The Lithuanians are equipped with the Vilkas (KTO Boxer with the Israeli Samson Mk2 tower), JLTV vehicles, fresh generation grenade launchers Carl-Gustaf M4 RD ca. 84 mm, and mobile short-range anti-aircraft defence systems (MSHORAD) with RBS 70 NG missiles.

– Coordination of [actions] between Poland and Lithuania, especially as regards current and possible future provocations from Russia, our coordination in NATO, bilateral and wider formats, is absolutely necessary. We are those countries that are most susceptible to direct provocations from the Russian side," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk in October after gathering Inga Ruginienė, head of the Lithuanian government.

Military cooperation between the 2 countries is besides based on the joint participation of soldiers in cyclical exercises (e.g. ‘Anaconda’), "Strong Griffin", ‘Brave Griffin’, ‘Iron Wolf’), safety support — Poland sent F-16 fighters to Lithuania in the framework of the Baltic Air Police mission (the last change of PKW Orlik ended in July) or the integration of Polish “Tarcza East” (paste of border fortifications) into the Baltic Defence Line. The plans besides include the creation of a regional logistics centre for HIMARS systems, as informed by Presidents of Poland and Lithuania.

Jakub Zagalski

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