Lithuania's defense measures: Constructing tanks and dismantling bridges due to invasion concerns
Lithuania is beefing up its defensive measures along its border with Russia, specifically at the bridge crossing to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Recently, anti-tank barriers known as "dragon's teeth" have been installed on the bridge, and some other bridges are set to be destroyed for fortification purposes. The Ministry of Defense in Vilnius emphasized that these fortifications will be backed by necessary firepower to repel and eliminate any enemy incursions.
Only a brief time ago, a Nemunas River bridge near the Panemune border crossing was armored with mines and anti-tank obstacles, referred to as a preventive measure. Pictures also surfaced showing dragon's teeth installed on the bridge.
On the opposite side of the Nemunas, a Russian structure bears a provocative "Z" symbol, which represents Moscow's conflict against Ukraine and can be found on their military vehicles. The Baltic states and Moldova have expressed concerns about being the potential next targets of Russian aggression.
Apprehensions regarding the Suwalki Gap
Even though Lithuania only shares a border with Russia by way of Kaliningrad, it also shares a frontier with Belarus. Consequently, fears of an incursion from Belarus through the Suwalki Gap are a significant concern. This potential invasion could result in a direct land connection for Russia to Kaliningrad.
Lithuania is among the primary supporters of Ukraine in terms of GDP. However, its limited resources and small population size restrict its capacity to offer significant assistance to Kyiv in its battle against Russian aggression.
Currently, the German military is constructing a Lithuanian-based Brigade amounting to 5,000 soldiers to protect the NATO eastern border. Critics argue that this force is too small to mount an effective defense against a significant Russian threat during a crisis, and the costs for such a project run into billions of euros.
The European Union has expressed solidarity with Lithuania in its border security efforts, pledging support and resources to enhance its defensive capabilities. The European Union Council has also discussed the potential threat to the EU's eastern border, emphasizing the importance of collective defense in the face of Russian aggression, particularly regarding the Suwalki Gap.
