Lithuania and Poland to expand joint military training with new Kapčiamestis firing range

The newly established Kapčiamestis military training ground will create exceptional conditions for large-scale joint exercises between Lithuanian and Polish forces, President Gitanas Nausėda said Monday, as reported by LRT.

Speaking after a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Nausėda confirmed that Lithuania’s recently adopted law on the Kapčiamestis range—located near the Polish border—will enable shared training and testing of military innovations. “I informed President Duda about the Seimas’ decision to establish the Kapčiamestis polygon and thanked Poland for its support,” he stated. “The new facility will indeed provide outstanding opportunities for expanded Lithuanian-Polish drills, including joint maneuvers and live-fire exercises.”

Last week, Nausėda signed legislation to create the Kapčiamestis range and expand the existing Tauragė training ground. The 14,600-hectare Kapčiamestis site will be divided into two zones: one for tactical maneuvers and another for combat shooting, the latter concentrated near the Polish border. The Defense Ministry estimates that two-thirds of the area will serve military training functions, while the remaining third will house administrative buildings.

Residents and businesses within the designated zones will have 60 months to decide whether to sell their properties to the state under simplified procedures. Compensation for non-material losses will reach up to €51,800 per homestead, with an additional €25,300 for moral damages. Owners in the paid training zone will have five years to choose between remaining or selling at either replacement or comparative market value.

The State Defense Council approved the Kapčiamestis project last December, alongside plans to double the size of the Tauragė range by extending it into Jurbarkas district.

Lithuania ready to host more allied troops
Addressing reports of potential US troop reductions in Germany, Nausėda reaffirmed Lithuania’s readiness to accommodate additional allied forces within its capacity. “We are prepared to host as many allied troops as our infrastructure allows,” he told reporters in Akmenynai village, adding that Lithuania continues to develop necessary training and housing facilities.

The president emphasized the importance of keeping US forces in Europe, urging NATO allies to ensure Washington maintains its transatlantic commitment.