Vaikšnoras discusses NATO eastern flank counter-mobility with US commander

Lithuanian Armed Forces Commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras discussed the development of a US-led counter-mobility initiative with Christopher R. Norrie, acting commander of US Army forces in Europe and Africa, LRT reported Thursday.

“We currently need a common counter-mobility concept across NATO’s entire eastern flank, not just in Lithuania,” Vaikšnoras said in a Facebook post.

The initiative is part of the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, or EFDI, led by the United States. Vaikšnoras said Norrie was visiting Lithuania and the region to assess the practical implementation of the initiative and opportunities for further integration.

According to Vaikšnoras, the system combines engineering obstacles, sensors, intelligence capabilities and drones, allowing NATO’s eastern flank to operate as a coordinated defensive space. He said Lithuania had made significant progress.

Counter-mobility equipment storage parks at locations designated by the Lithuanian Armed Forces are expected to be completed by the end of 2028. The original deadline was April 2025, but it was extended after the number of parks was increased from 27 to 50 and a new counter-mobility zone was added.

The government this week approved plans to establish strips 20 and 150 metres wide along the borders with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad region, extending into Lithuanian territory from the edge of patrol tracks.

By the end of 2028, reserve obstacles are also expected to be installed on sections of nationally important roads and at bridge approaches, while bridges will be prepared for the attachment of explosives. Marshes at locations designated by the military are to be restored by the end of 2030.

The Ministry of National Defence estimates that implementing the changes will require about 50 million euros in additional funding from the State Defence Fund between 2026 and 2030.

The parks near the borders with Russia and Belarus will store dragon’s teeth, assembled hedgehogs, Spanish horses, concrete road barriers, concertina wire, roadblocks and shipping containers.

Counter-mobility parks began to be established in 2023, based on experience from the war in Ukraine, which showed that such measures can effectively stop, redirect and divide enemy forces. The government approved the implementation plan for the counter-mobility measures in July 2024.