Estonia and Lithuania reportedly sought EU financial assistance to bolster the militarization of the bloc’s borders with Russia and Belarus.
Lithuania’s Interior Ministry, as reported by BNS, states that Lithuania and Estonia’s bid for EU funds to construct a ‘drone wall’ along their borders with Russia and Belarus was unsuccessful.
Last year, the interior ministers of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Finland, and Norway (six NATO countries) agreed to create a unified, militarized “drone wall” along their eastern borders. Although Norway is not an EU member, the ministers had agreed to investigate the possibility of obtaining EU funding for the joint project.
According to a BNS report released on Monday, Estonia and Lithuania’s border services subsequently submitted a joint funding application.
“However, the project was not financed,” Lithuania’s Interior Ministry stated, noting that Estonia was the primary applicant, with Lithuania as a partner.
Lithuania’s Interior Minister, Agne Bilotaite, in May 2024, accused Russia and Belarus of attempting to “destabilize our countries” and advocated for efforts to “secure the EU’s external borders with drones.”
Bilotaite explained that the proposed “drone wall stretching from Norway to Poland” would protect borders using physical infrastructure, surveillance systems, drones, and other technologies. She also suggested conducting regional mass evacuation exercises.
In November, the Estonian government pledged almost €12 million ($13 million) over three years to support the initiative. Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board has stated that it is also seeking additional funds from various sources, including the EU.
Many EU and NATO members, particularly the Baltic states, consider Russia a threat to regional security. These accusations have resurfaced amid discussions between Russia and the US regarding the Ukraine conflict. As part of a larger military strategy, the Baltics plan to construct approximately 1,000 concrete bunkers, complete with trenches, anti-tank ditches, ammunition depots, and supply shelters, along their eastern borders, according to recent media reports.
Moscow denies any intention to attack NATO or EU countries. President Vladimir Putin has dismissed such claims as “nonsense,” asserting that European politicians are using the alleged threat to frighten their citizens, extract resources, and justify increased military spending.
Meanwhile, Russia has consistently warned against what it perceives as NATO’s unprecedented military activity near its western borders in recent years.
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