Construction of bunkers and other fortifications along Baltic Defense Line to be gradual - Defense Ministry

RIGA - Construction of bunkers and other fortifications along the Baltic Defense Line will be started gradually, LETA was told at the press office of the Defense Ministry.

The development of a barrier line and storage facilities is the current priority in building the Baltic Defense Line. SJSC Valsts Nekustamie Ipasumi (VNI) public property manager has been charged with organizing the construction work.

Meanwhile, the National Armed Forces (NAF) are defining and working out operational requirements for the bunkers, including their location, functionality, and technical solutions. The construction of the bunkers will start sequentially based on the defined military needs.

The Defense Ministry works in close cooperation with Estonian colleagues, who started planning and constructing bunkers earlier. "We have familiarized ourselves with their design tests and procurement specifications, and are using this experience to develop Latvian solutions. Estonia was one of the first countries in the region to prioritize the construction of bunkers," the ministry said.

In summer 2025, the Defense Ministry announced a grant program for the development of fortification and anti-mobility solutions. The results and technical solutions of these projects will be used to develop the bunkers and fortifications according to the needs identified by the NAF.

Construction work on bunkers and other fortifications along the Baltic Defense Line is expected to start gradually, beginning with the sections and solutions identified as military priorities, the ministry said.

As reported, the creation of anti-mobility infrastructure is part of the Baltic Defense Line project agreed between the Baltic states and Poland on January 19, 2024.

The NAF has been militarily reinforcing Latvia's eastern border since March 2024. The purpose of the defenses is to deter, stop and, if necessary, destroy the aggressor.

Last year, EUR 45 million was allocated for military reinforcements on Latvia's eastern border. This year, EUR 55 million is earmarked for this purpose.