Lithuania pours €110 million into military upgrades ahead of massive NATO drills

The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence announced plans to invest €110 million (approximately $117 million) in military infrastructure projects in the Panevėžys district in northern Lithuania.

The long-term investment, to be implemented by 2030, is part of the country’s broader efforts to modernise its defence capabilities and enhance operational readiness in cooperation with NATO allies, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

According to the ministry’s press release on May 2, the development plan includes at least 20 military infrastructure projects. A substantial portion of the funds will be allocated to improving the facilities of the King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion, one of Lithuania’s key army units, and upgrading the military airfield in Pajuostis, a strategically important location for air mobility and logistics.

Beyond the modernisation of existing military bases, the ministry confirmed that the Panevėžys district will also be equipped with new facilities to service military vehicles and store supplies, further strengthening Lithuania’s defence logistics network.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Orijana Mašalė, who oversees infrastructure development, emphasised the strategic importance of the investments. “The rapid, efficient, and transparent development of infrastructure remains one of the Ministry’s top priorities. We are focusing on every region of Lithuania. This year alone, we are implementing over 200 military infrastructure projects nationwide — and this is only the beginning,” she said. “Infrastructure is essential not only for our national defence forces but also for the forces of our NATO allies.”

The announcement comes ahead of one of Lithuania’s largest-ever military exercise cycles, which will take place in May and involve both national and allied forces. The Lithuanian Armed Forces will host large-scale drills across the country, bringing together around 8,000 troops from Lithuania and NATO member states. Over 1,000 pieces of military equipment, as well as dozens of aircraft, ships, and support systems, will be deployed.

“This is one of the most extensive multinational training cycles we’ve ever conducted,” said General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Chief of Defence of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. “Such scale not only demonstrates our and our allies’ readiness to operate jointly but also sends a strong signal of unity and determination to defend every inch of NATO territory.”

The upcoming drills will form part of Griffin Lightning 2025, a NATO-led tactical training initiative coordinated by the Multinational Corps Northeast. The exercise series also includes Iron Wolf 2025-I, Swift Response 2025, Strong Shield 5, and Lithuania’s national exercises Perkūno tvirtovė 2025 and Perkūno griausmas.

Perkūno tvirtovė 2025, the main Lithuanian Armed Forces drill, will be held from May 13 to 27. The exercise will simulate a national defence scenario, culminating in the issuance of an operational command order based on a realistic armed defence plan. According to the Ministry of National Defence, the results of this exercise will feed into Perkūno griausmas, scheduled for the autumn, which will feature tactical manoeuvres in various regions of the country.

The Lithuanian government’s investment in military infrastructure and its active engagement in NATO exercises reflect its growing emphasis on deterrence and rapid response capabilities amid continued regional security concerns, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova