Riga approves plan to reinforce border with Belarus, Russia

March 6, Pozirk. The Latvian Cabinet of Ministers has approved a €303-million five-year plan to reinforce the country’s eastern border and counter a hypothetical offensive, the Latvian defense ministry reported.

It linked the plan to the Baltic defense line, which is being established by regional countries. The plan envisages strongholds along the entire frontier with Belarus and Russia, defensive positions, anti-tank trenches and ammunition and mine depots.

The Latvians will start reinforcing the eastern border in March.

Workers will dig anti-tank ditches, install pyramidal anti-tank obstacles of reinforced concrete and plant mines. The engineers would also use natural barriers, such as swamps and forests.

In addition, the Latvians will design plans for key transport routes – motorways, railways and bridges – to slow the potential advance.

The Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian defense ministers agreed to establish the Baltic defense line in January 2024.