Lithuania has begun the construction of a large military base near Russia that will house thousands of combat-ready German troops.
A capsule burying ceremony was held Monday at the Rūdninkai Training Area in the country’s southwest to mark the first phase of construction work.
With a size of 170 hectares (420 acres), the site is said to become the “largest piece of military infrastructure” in Lithuania’s recent history.
It is being built by Vilnius-based construction firm Eikos Statyba UAB and is estimated to cost more than 1 billion euros ($1.10 billion).
The project is expected to be finished by the end of 2027, in time for German forces’ full operational capability in the Baltic state.
A Strategic Location
The multibillion-dollar initiative is part of Berlin’s 2023 commitment to station a permanent brigade in Lithuania in 2025.
NATO and European Union member Latvia has been preparing for the “worst-case scenario” after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Lithuania shares a 227-kilometer (141-mile) border with Russia and is one of Ukraine’s major military backers, making it a potential target for Moscow.
The new military base, which will accommodate up to 4,000 German troops, is located near the capital Vilnius and just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Russian ally Belarus.
It will have facilities for tank storage and maintenance, as well as shooting ranges of various sizes to support military training.
The base is expected to house three major German combat units: the Bavarian 122 Armored Infantry Battalion, the North Rhine Westphalia-based 203 Tank Battalion, and the multinational Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Lithuania.