Additional necessary funding is provided for the implementation of measures to strengthen security this year, the Ministry of Defense explained.
In early March, the government approved a plan for military fortification and counter-mobility measures on the eastern border. This is part of the future Baltic defense line, which will include the creation of strongholds for National Armed Forces units along the entire border with Russia and Belarus: defensive positions for military personnel and fortified defensive positions, various obstacles, anti-tank ditches, ammunition depots and mines.
Over the next five years, the defense industry will invest 303 million euros in border strengthening. The work for which this funding is provided began in March.
In order to prevent the movement of the enemy, strengthening the border in Latvia will begin with digging up existing roads with the creation of anti-tank ditches, and later reclamation diversion ditches located in the border zone will be converted into anti-tank ditches.
In addition, various types of obstacles will be placed, for example, anti-tank ditches will be reinforced with concrete blocks and structures – the so-called “dragon teeth” and anti-tank mines. The placement of obstacles will be adapted to the terrain, and natural obstacles will be used – swamps, forests and other natural objects.
At the same time, safe storage facilities for explosives and mines, as well as engineering and technical materials will be installed and equipped in the border zone to quickly strengthen defense positions. In addition, plans will be developed to prepare for the rapid and effective blocking of the most important transport arteries – roads, railways, bridges – in order to delay the possible advance of the enemy.
This year, 25 million euros are allocated for the implementation of the activities provided for in the plan.
Although the plan is now designed for five years, in general, strengthening the country’s defense capabilities will occur in the long term.
The defense ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia signed an agreement in January this year to create a Baltic defense line to strengthen the eastern border of the Baltic countries and NATO. The Baltic defense line will be built in a coordinated manner, but each country will cover the costs from its own budget funds.
The Baltic defense line will significantly strengthen the potential of the Baltic countries for the military defense of their borders and create obstacles to possible lightning military operations by Russia. The construction of the line is consistent with NATO defense plans.
The agreement of the Baltic countries does not provide for all countries to simultaneously begin or complete the construction of this line on the same day.
The plan approved by the government will be implemented in parallel with the construction of the infrastructure of the country’s eastern border, including the fence, being carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Joint Stock Company “Valsts nekustamie īpašumi”. Millions of euros have so far been spent on the construction of infrastructure and large sums are envisaged in the future.
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2024-04-20 05:42:46
