Defence minister dismisses opposition to new military range as “cheap vote-chasing”

Lithuania’s defence minister has accused ruling coalition members of political opportunism after they voted against plans for a new military training ground in Kapčiamestis, stating that even Kaunas has not faced such threats over its existing ranges, LRT reports.

Robertas Kaunas condemned the opposition from the Nemuno Aušra faction—part of the governing majority—as “politicking and a grab for cheap votes” ahead of upcoming elections. “Nothing more,” he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

The proposal for the brigade-scale training ground in Lazdijai district cleared its first parliamentary vote, with 102 MPs in favour, 10 against, and five abstentions. But Kaunas insisted the dissenters’ concerns over air defence priorities, forest protection, or lack of information were disingenuous.

“While some politicians play games, others receive threats against themselves and their families,” he said. “I’ll defend myself and my children from these degenerates. We haven’t even dealt with such issues in Kaunas, but we’ll need to calmly discuss what to do next with the coalition.”

The minister acknowledged past constructive work with coalition partners, including securing a larger defence budget, but said the issue would now be raised with the Social Democratic Party’s board. “The coalition stumbled today,” he admitted.

The State Defence Council approved the Kapčiamestis project last December, alongside plans to double the size of the Tauragė range by expanding into Jurbarkas district. Local communities have protested the decisions, which officials justify as necessary to accommodate military modernisation, growing conscript numbers, and allied forces.