A member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has announced plans to spend more than €1 billion over the next decade fortifying its border with Russia and Belarus, including laying extensive anti-tank mines. The move comes as defense officials across the alliance warn of potential Russian aggression targeting NATO territory.
Lithuania's Ministry of Defense stated the investment is aimed at restricting the movement of potential invading forces. Over €800 million is designated for purchasing mines and related systems. Lithuania to lay antitank mines along its borders with Belarus Russia stated counter-mobility measures are a core part of national defense.
The defense ministry described countermobility as crucial to deterrence, asserting it increases state security along the borders with Russia and Belarus. In the event of aggression, these measures would enable blocking hostile states from acting against the Republic of Lithuania.
The investment follows Lithuania's decision, alongside Latvia, Poland, and Estonia, to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines. Finland to quit global landmines ban noted similar rationale from other neighbors of Russia.
This strategic shift reflects concerns voiced by intelligence services in alliance nations. Germany's Federal Intelligence Service reportedly assessed in March that Russia is preparing for conflict with NATO and could be ready for conventional war by 2030. Lithuania's intelligence service assessed Moscow might attempt to test NATO's resolve with a limited military operation.
Any attack on a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member would trigger Article 5 of the alliance treaty, which considers an attack against one as an attack against all.
Against this backdrop, United States lawmakers have reinforced calls for the US to uphold its commitment to the alliance. Pelosi warns the US needs NATO too reported Representative Nancy Pelosi stating the United States cannot neglect its commitment to mutual defense with its NATO allies given Russian actions.
Pelosi stressed the importance of the US honoring its commitments to expect others to do the same, referring to the mutual defense commitment in NATO Article 5.
