Defence minister dismisses threats over training ground as political posturing

Lithuania’s defence minister has accused coalition partners of “cheap vote-grabbing” after some ruling bloc MPs opposed plans for a new military training ground, while revealing he has received threats over the project, LRT reports.

Robertas Kaunas said the decision by several Nemuno Aušra (New Dawn) faction lawmakers to vote against the Kapčiamestis training range was “pure politicking” ahead of elections, not a matter of policy concerns. “Nothing more,” he wrote on Facebook.

The project cleared its first parliamentary vote on Tuesday with 102 MPs in favour, 10 against, and five abstentions. But Kaunas stressed the opposition from some coalition allies had triggered threats against him and his family. “While some politicians play games, others face threats to themselves and their loved ones,” he said. “I’ll defend myself and my children from these degenerates. We don’t even deal with this in Kaunas, but we’ll need to calmly discuss how to move forward with the coalition.”

The minister said he would raise the issue in the Social Democratic Party’s governing board, though he acknowledged coalition partners had previously backed key defence measures, including larger military budgets. “This is constructive work, but today the coalition stumbled,” he said.

The Kapčiamestis range, approved by the State Defence Council last December, is intended to support Lithuania’s military modernisation, expanding conscript training and hosting allied forces. A separate decision will double the size of the Tauragė training ground, extending it into Jurbarkas district. Both plans have faced local opposition, including protests.