Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have jointly called on the European Union to establish a defence line along the bloc's border with Russia and Belarus to safeguard against military and hybrid threats from Moscow.
In a letter addressed to the EU chairman, set to be discussed at an upcoming summit in Brussels, the leaders of these four countries emphasised the need for financial and political support from all EU member states to protect the 27-nation bloc's 450 million citizens.
"Building a defence infrastructure system along the EU external border with Russia and Belarus will address the dire and urgent need to secure the EU from military and hybrid threats," the letter stated. Hybrid threats include disinformation, cyberattacks, economic pressure, and the forced movement of migrants across borders.
EU diplomats estimate the cost of such a defensive line along the 700 km border at approximately 2.5 billion euros ($2.67 billion). The summit will focus on European defence investment and financing, especially as Russia's war against Ukraine continues into its third year.
This call for a ground defense line complements an earlier initiative by Greece and Poland to develop an EU air defence system, modeled on Israel's Iron Dome, to integrate the currently separate air defense systems of EU countries.
"Extraordinary measures need to be employed as the EU's external border must be protected and defended with military and civilian means," the letter emphasised. It also called for the project to be coordinated with NATO to meet military requirements.
Read more: European Defence Measures
(Source: Reuters)
