Lithuania invests €30 million to enhance NATO training hub near Kaliningrad

Lithuania's Ministry of National Defence has allocated €30 million to further develop a training centre in Kazlų Rūda, a region located near the border with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, by 2030.

The investment includes the construction and enhancement of infrastructure that will serve to assist allied troops stationed in or passing through Lithuania under the NATO framework.

Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė emphasised the broader strategic goal of strengthening Lithuania’s and NATO’s defence capabilities in the agency's press statement, Caliber.Az reports.

She stated that Lithuania is planning to invest over €2.5 billion nationwide in Host Nation Support (HNS) infrastructure, NATO's program of civil and military assistance by host countries, including facilities for the German Brigade. This demonstrates the country’s firm commitment to rapidly building essential infrastructure and fully supporting deployed forces.

In support of this initiative, the Lithuanian Cabinet approved the reclassification of land in the Kazlų Rūda municipality from forestry to national defence use, to be now used for the construction of the HNS infrastructure.

Host Nation Support refers to the provision of goods, services, and infrastructure to Allied forces during crises, military conflicts, exercises, or transit through Lithuanian territory. It plays a crucial role in enabling rapid deployment and readiness of NATO forces.

According to the defence ministry's statement, "this multi-layered approach underlines Lithuania's proactive role in regional security and its commitment to NATO obligations."

By Nazrin Sadigova