Southern Lithuania being considered for new military training area – PM

VILNIUS – The government is looking at potential sites in southern Lithuania for a new brigade-sized military training area, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said on Wednesday.

“We're scouting for a location in the southern part of the country," he told reporters. "Discussions with mayors are underway."

Paluckas noted that a military training area brings "not just risks and inconvenience for municipalities, but also opportunities".

"A training area significantly changes the comfort and way of life for nearby residents. On the other hand, it's a strategic necessity for the country, so these interests must be balanced. There's a way to do so because, in the end, municipalities have a wide range of interests and needs," he said.

The prime minister said earlier this week that that a decision on a new training area would be made in the coming months. 

"It's not like a training area will just fall from the sky onto people's heads on a sunny morning. These will be well-thought-out, balanced decisions, and if needed, include compensation measures," he said.

In 2023, the State Defense Council proposed establishing a military training area in Lithuania that could accommodate a brigade-sized unit. However, the plan has made no headway.

Last fall, the parliament gave the green light to set up new military training areas in the western districts of Taurage and Silale, but these will be smaller and used only for maneuvering. 

Lithuania needs new training areas amid the growing presence of allied troops, an increasing number of conscripts and reservists, and new military equipment purchases.