Lithuania plans major investment in anti-tank mines

Lithuania has announced plans to allocate €812 million for anti-tank mines and associated defence systems by 2035, with part of the funding—€189 million—expected to come from the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme.

Speaking to the Seimas Conservative Group on February 9, Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas said the focus would be on mobility, emphasising the use of mines as a tool to enable rapid responses. He added that Lithuanian authorities are coordinating the use of SAFE funds and working with the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) to identify specific defence needs, Caliber.Az reports via Lithuanian media.

In addition to the anti-tank mine funding, Lithuania plans to allocate €112 million for countermobility measures, €83 million for engineering projects, and €85 million for surveillance systems.

Kaunas also highlighted Lithuania’s commitment to international treaties, noting that the country ratified the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines in 2003. Under the treaty, Lithuania undertakes not to use, develop, produce, acquire, stockpile, store, or transfer anti-personnel mines.

By Sabina Mammadli