Lithuanian president proposes naming Kapčiamiestis military base after Emilija Pliaterytė

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has proposed naming the future Kapčiamiestis military training ground after Emilija Pliaterytė, a 19th-century noblewoman and military leader in the 1831 uprising, state broadcaster LRT reports.

The suggestion came as Nausėda signed laws establishing the Kapčiamiestis training ground and expanding the Tauragė facility into Jurbarkas district. He called the decisions “the two most important for national security in the past six months,” alongside Lithuania’s commitment to allocate 5.38% of GDP to defence by 2026.

“The Kapčiamiestis training ground is vital for forming a national division and ensuring effective troop training,” Nausėda said at a press conference. The site, near the Suwałki Gap, will strengthen regional defence and NATO cooperation, with capacity for thousands of troops in simultaneous exercises, including international drills.

Addressing local concerns, the president acknowledged “normal” debate over the project but stressed its necessity for Lithuania’s security strategy. He urged the government to align national defence needs with community expectations, including infrastructure, healthcare, and environmental protections. “All parties agreed this is a priority,” he noted after discussions with the prime minister, ministers, and local officials.

Nausėda also proposed that the Tauragė expansion—extending into Jurbarkas district—should include state measures to improve living conditions for affected residents, calling it a “moral debt” to local municipalities.

If adopted, the Kapčiamiestis facility would become Lithuania’s first military training ground named after a woman. Pliaterytė, a captain in the 1831 uprising against Russian rule, is a national symbol of resistance.

The president expressed hope the base could open ahead of schedule, adding that misinformation—such as claims the site is too close to the border—had been addressed. “All necessary standards are being maintained,” he said.