{{Short description|Proposed defence cooperation between the Baltic States}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use British English|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox military installation | name = Baltic Defence Line | location = Baltic states | image = Baltic states location map.svg | image_size = 250px | caption = Location of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania | type = Defense line | controlledby = Estonia<br>Latvia<br>Lithuania | garrison = | battles = }}
The '''Baltic Defence Line''' ({{Langx|et|Balti kaitsevöönd}},<ref name="kaitseministeerium"/> {{Langx|lv|Baltijas aizsardzības līnija}}, {{Langx|lt|Baltijos gynybos linija}}) is a planned joint defense line by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania along their borders with Russia and Belarus.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 February 2024 |title=The Baltic Defense Line - Foreign Policy Research Institute |url=https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/02/the-baltic-defense-line/ |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=Foreign Policy Research Institute}}</ref> The Baltic Defence Line was announced on 19 January 2024, in a joint-meeting between the Ministers of Defence of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in Riga.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 January 2024 |title=The Baltic states develop a mutual defence line: agreements signed on countermobility and HIMARS capabilities |url=https://kam.lt/en/the-baltic-states-develop-a-mutual-defence-line-agreements-signed-on-countermobility-and-himars-capabilities/ |access-date=26 May 2024}}</ref> [https://news.err.ee/1609726515/baltic-defense-zone-anti-tank-ditch-construction-underway-in-southeast-estonia The Baltic Defence Line began construction in Estonia in June 2025],<ref name="kaitseministeerium">{{Cite web |title=Balti kaitsevöönd {{!}} Kaitseministeerium |url=https://kaitseministeerium.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/baltikaitsevoond |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=kaitseministeerium.ee |language=et}}</ref><ref name="euronews">{{Cite web |date=19 January 2024 |title=Baltic states sign agreement to bolster NATO's eastern border |url=https://www.euronews.com/2024/01/19/baltic-states-to-build-new-defences-to-bolster-natos-eastern-border |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref> construction is to begin in Lithuania by the end of summer 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 May 2024 |title=Lithuania plans permanent fortifications on Russia, Belarus borders – minister |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2279757/lithuania-plans-permanent-fortifications-on-russia-belarus-borders-minister |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=lrt.lt |language=en}}</ref> and construction began in Latvia on 2 May 2024.<ref name="kyivindependent">{{Cite web |date=3 May 2024 |title=Media: Latvia starts digging anti-tank ditch near border with Russia |url=https://kyivindependent.com/media-latvia-starts-digging-anti-tank-ditch-near-border-with-russia/ |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=The Kyiv Independent |language=en}}</ref>
According to Baiba Braže, the Foreign Minister of Latvia, the Baltic Defence Line could take up to a decade to be completed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ERR |first=ERR News {{!}} |date=24 January 2024 |title=Latvian minister: Constructing Baltic Defense Line could take a decade |url=https://news.err.ee/1609231730/latvian-minister-constructing-baltic-defense-line-could-take-a-decade |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=ERR |language=en}}</ref>
== Structure == The Baltic Defence Line is planned to consist of anti-mobility defensive installations,<ref name="politico">{{Cite web |date=19 January 2024 |title=Baltic states plan common defense zone on Russia border as security concerns mount |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/latvia-lithuania-estonia-common-defense-zone-russia-border-security-concerns/ |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=POLITICO |language=en-GB}}</ref> such as at least six-hundred bunkers across each individual national border,<ref group="note">Latvia and Lithuania are yet to disclose the number of bunkers they are to build in relation to the ''Baltic Defense Line''.</ref> natural and artificial obstacles, such as forestry and rivers, and anti-tank ditches, along the borders of the three Baltic states.<ref name="kyivindependent"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Tim |date=8 February 2024 |title=Baltic nations prepare 600-strong bunker defensive line, with Russian threat in mind |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2024/02/baltic-nations-prepare-600-strong-bunker-defensive-line-with-russian-threat-in-mind/ |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}</ref>
Alongside the defensive installations, the Baltic Defence Line is to also include storage areas, where defensive elements such as dragon's teeth, anti-tank hedgehogs and razor wire are to be kept.<ref name="kaitseministeerium"/>
== History == The Baltic Defence Line was proposed in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and in fears over Russian threats to the Baltic states.<ref>{{Cite web |last=robertsemonsen |date=26 January 2024 |title=Baltic States To Establish Defense Line Along Eastern NATO Flank |url=https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/baltic-states-to-establish-defense-line-along-eastern-nato-flank/ |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=europeanconservative.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The concept of defensive installations was decided at the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid.<ref name="euronews"/>
== Estonia == Anti-tank ditches were being dug and "Dragon's teeth" anti-tank obstacles installed in south-east Estonia in 2025. A number of bunkers were also being constructed.<ref>{{Cite web |date= 20 June 2025 |title=Baltic Defense Line anti-tank ditch construction underway in Estonia |url=https://news.err.ee/1609726515/baltic-defense-line-anti-tank-ditch-construction-underway-in-estonia |access-date=27 November 2025 |author=Mirjam Mõttus, Johanna Alvin, Andrew Whyte, Helen Wright |website=ERR Eesti Rahvusringhääling }}</ref>
== Latvia == Border fortifications were built in Latvia in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2025 |title=Saeima approves Latvian border anti-mobility infrastructure law |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/02.10.2025-saeima-approves-latvian-border-anti-mobility-infrastructure-law.a616742/ |access-date=14 November 2025 |website=LSM+ English (Latvian Public Media) }}</ref>
At the end of 2025, Latvia completed the construction of a 280km fence along the Latvia-Russia border. However border infrastructure construction continued in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 30, 2025 |author= Latgale Television, LSM English (Latvian Public Media) |title=280 km-long fence on Latvian-Russian border finished |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/30.12.2025-280-km-long-fence-on-latvian-russian-border-finished.a628173/ |access-date=1 January 2026 |website=LSM English (Latvian Public Media) |language=en }}</ref>
== Lithuania == In June 2024, Lithuania started acquiring military engineering countermobility materiel for its equipment depots at the border with Russia and Belarus.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2024 |title=Lithuania acquires engineering countermobility means for Baltic Defence Line project |url=https://defence-industry.eu/lithuania-acquires-engineering-countermobility-means-for-baltic-defence-line-project/ |access-date=2 January 2026 |website=Defence Industry Europe }}</ref>
== See also ==
*East Shield: a similar project of defensive lines launched by the Polish government in order to fortify Poland's eastern borders with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
== References ==
=== Notes === {{Reflist|group=note}}
=== References === <references />
Category:21st-century fortifications Category:Reactions to the Russian invasion of Ukraine Category:Military projects of the Baltic states