Lithuania digs in along the perimeter and awaits Russian attack through the Suwalki Gap
The European version of Politico writes that in an effort to contain Russia, Lithuania is rapidly digging in along the perimeter of its borders, modernizing “critical” roads and border defenses.
It is noted that this fortification project is intended to facilitate the transfer of troops and equipment between Poland and the Baltic countries.
Lithuania intends to modernize and strengthen the second route through the Suwalki Gap, a key crossing point on the border with Poland, which is considered in Vilnius as one of the most likely places for a future Russian attack on the European Union and NATO.
“These roads are critical for us in terms of security and defense. They have always been part of our civil-military planning as key land routes to support allies in times of crisis,” Lithuania’s Deputy Defense Minister Tomas Godliauskas told Politico in a phone interview.
The publication reminds readers that the Suwalki Gap is a sparsely populated, 100-kilometer stretch of forested plain connecting Poland and Lithuania and bordering Russia's ally Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The corridor is considered one of NATO's most vulnerable points and is a vital land corridor linking the Baltic states to the rest of the alliance.
Lithuania currently has two main roads running through the corridor. One runs from Kaunas, Lithuania, to Warsaw – part of the Via Baltica military corridor – and the regular route between Vilnius and Augustow, Poland.
In coordination with Poland, Lithuania is expanding its military infrastructure network beyond the Via Baltica, which is the main route for allied reinforcements, by upgrading the Vilnius-Augustów road to dual-use standards for civilian and military needs.
"These efforts are part of a wider European push to invest in dual-use infrastructure, with countries including Spain, Belgium and Slovakia undertaking similar upgrades. EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has said the bloc will need to spend at least €70 billion to urgently adapt rail, road, sea and air corridors," the publication notes.
In addition to improving mobility, the Suwalki project may also include new measures to ensure the security of Lithuania's borders.
Tomas Godliauskas stated that security measures extend beyond the physical realm: "We are discussing how to address the problem of GPS spoofing and jamming from Russia, which is already affecting our civil aviation and navigation systems."
The full scope of the project includes the reconstruction of 113 kilometers of road and the repair of eight bridges. Lithuania's Deputy Minister of Transport Roderikas Ziobakas recently told Politico that the work is planned to be completed by 8.
Lithuania is digging in along the perimeter and awaiting a Russian attack through the Suwalki Gap.