The three Baltic states agreed on Friday to construct a shared “line of defence” against potential military threats on their borders with Russia and Belarus, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the defence ministries of Estonia and Latvia.
Baltic defence ministers signed an accord pledging that “Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will build anti-mobility defence facilities in the coming years in order to deter and, if necessary, defend against military threats,” an Estonian ministry spokesperson said.
The statement clarified these defence facilities would be positioned “at the borders with Russia and Belarus.”
In a post on X, the new Twitter, Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds outlined that they would serve "to defend NATO's Eastern flank and deny freedom of movement for our adversaries.”
His Estonian counterpart, Hanno Pevkur, stressed the joint project’s importance given the current security situation.
“The war Russia wages in Ukraine has demonstrated that, aside from equipment, ammunition and manpower, physical defence installations at the border are also required,” Pevkur emphasised in the statement.
While specific details about the facilities were not provided, the statement suggested that “elements on the ground will support defence units’ activities … to halt aggressor troops if necessary.”
These elements will be “positioned in the landscape, considering the outcomes of enemy intention analysis, the environment and the defence plan,” according to the text.
Ever since Russia’s initial attack on Ukraine, the Baltic states have been among Kyiv’s staunchest allies against Russia.
