Lithuania plans to fortify Suwałki Corridor amid fears of potential Russian attack

Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Tomas Godliauskas said this in an interview with Politico.

“These roads are critically important to us in terms of security and defense. They have always been part of our civil-military planning as key land routes to support allies in the event of a crisis,” Godliauskas noted.

The Suwałki Corridor is a sparsely populated stretch of forested plain about 100 km wide, bordered on the west by Russia’s Kaliningrad region and on the east by Belarus. This territory is considered one of the most vulnerable spots within NATO member states, as it is a vital land corridor connecting the Baltic countries with the rest of the Alliance.

Currently, Lithuania has two main roads passing through the Suwałki Corridor. One runs from Kaunas to Warsaw and is part of the Via Baltica military corridor, while the other is a regular route between Vilnius and the Polish town of Augustów.

Lithuania, in coordination with Poland, is now working to expand its military infrastructure network beyond Via Baltica, which is the main route for allied reinforcements, by upgrading the Vilnius–Augustów road to dual-use standards—for both civilian and military needs.

In addition to improving mobility, the project in the Suwałki Corridor may also include new border security measures.

Godliauskas stated that ensuring the freedom of movement for troops and cargo along both roads is a priority, adding that such border security operations will likely be closely monitored by Russia as “sensitive and vital” information.

He added that security measures go beyond the physical space.

“We are discussing how to counter GPS spoofing and jamming by Russia, which is already affecting our civil aviation and navigation systems,” said the Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister.

The full scope of the project includes the reconstruction of 113 kilometers of road and the renovation of eight bridges. Lithuanian Deputy Transport Minister Roderikas Žiobakas told the publication that the work is expected to be completed by 2028.

Lithuania also hopes to receive EU funding for the project.

• In April 2024, exercises were held in the Suwałki Corridor in case of Russian aggression.