Lithuania has unveiled its first counter-mobility park as part of the Baltic Defence Line, a system of fortifications agreed upon by Baltic defence ministers in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The park, located in Pabradė near the border with Belarus, features various obstacles such as roadblocks, ‘dragon’s teeth’ anti-tank barriers, ‘hedgehogs’, and ‘Spanish horses’. These measures are aimed at slowing down or stopping an enemy in the event of an attack, allowing for efficient defence tactics. The Lithuanian government has green-lit plans to implement increased counter-mobility measures, which include setting up roadblocks and installing structures for explosives under bridges. The entire defence system is estimated to cost around €600 million over the next decade.
The Baltic Defence Line will extend to Poland, Latvia, and Estonia, with each country fortifying its eastern border to protect against military and hybrid threats from the East. Poland has its own East Shield initiative, and construction on Latvia’s portion of the defence line in the Latgale region is currently underway. In June, the leaders of these Baltic States, along with Poland, urged the EU to fund the collective defence line against threats from Russia and Belarus. These countries, once part of the Soviet Union, are now members of the EU and NATO and stand in solidarity with Ukraine, which has been under attack by Russia since February 2022. The establishment of the Baltic Defence Line signifies a united front against aggression from the East and a commitment to strengthening NATO’s eastern border.
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