Estonia lags behind other Baltic states in defense zone construction

TALLINN - In January 2024, the defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania approved the Baltic defense zone concept, allowing work to begin on a defense line spanning the three countries, however, Estonia has fallen slightly behind the initial timeline for building its portion of the defense line, Postimees reports.

The Baltic defense zone is a joint initiative of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to ensure military defense from the very first meter of national territory. In addition to standard border barriers, the project includes the construction of military fortifications in border areas.

In Estonia, the defense zone will consist of obstacles and field fortifications, including the construction of 600 concrete bunkers for units of the defense forces and the Kaitseliit (Defense League) volunteer corps, along with storage areas for various barrier elements.

The locations for the strongpoints were expected to be determined by the end of last year, but the timeline for building the Baltic defense zone has slipped. Construction on the Estonian segment, estimated to cost 60 million euros, was supposed to begin at the start of this year. Krismar Rosin, spokesperson for the Estonian Center for Defense Investments (RKIK), confirmed that the selection of bunker locations is still underway, and RKIK will soon launch procurement processes to find bunker manufacturers.

The Latvian government approved its segment of the defense line in March 2024 and allocated 303 million euros over the next five years for its development. Latvia plans to build defense structures along its eastern border, including anti-tank ditches and pre-positioned ammunition depots. Drainage ditches in the border area will be converted into anti-tank trenches reinforced with concrete blocks, dragon's teeth, and anti-tank mines. Latvia has also developed plans to quickly and effectively shut down key transportation routes -- highways, railways, and bridges -- to prevent enemy advances.

Spokespeople for the Latvian Ministry of Defense said that temporary engineering supply depots have already been set up in Latgale near the Russia-Belarus border, where anti-mobility barriers -- concrete blocks, dragon's teeth, "tank traps," and similar elements -- have been stored.

In addition, Latvia is closing roads and forest paths in the border zone to restrict vehicle movement along the eastern border.

"We continue surveying the Latvia-Russia and Latvia-Belarus borders and are planning barrier placements. In the near future, we will continue acquiring anti-mobility construction elements and proceed with construction work according to the border defense and anti-mobility plan," the ministry said.

Spokespeople for the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense said that the Lithuanian defense line differs somewhat in structure from those of Estonia and Latvia.

"Lithuania’s defense line relies on anti-mobility measures that take advantage of natural obstacles such as wetlands, rivers, and dense forests, which render much of the border unsuitable for military movement even without additional structures or measures. Additional steps have also been taken to disrupt enemy movement along roads, difficult terrain, forests, and open areas," the ministry said.

To support this, Lithuania is creating pre-positioned obstacle storage areas it calls "anti-mobility parks." According to current plans, 27 such barrier parks will be built in various Lithuanian municipalities. The first one was established in 2023 in Mickūnai, where barriers were gathered to halt enemy movement.