Lithuania signs funding agreements for military training ground expansion in Lazdijai and Jurbarkas
Tuesday 19th May 2026 on 18:15 in
Lithuania
Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence has signed agreements with the municipalities of Lazdijai and Jurbarkas to provide additional funding for infrastructure development linked to the expansion of military training grounds, LRT reports.
The deals, finalised on Tuesday, allocate €1.35 million to Lazdijai district—where the new Kapčiamestis training range is being established—and €270,000 to Jurbarkas district, home to the expanded Tauragė training ground. Funding will double from 2027, reaching €2.7 million and €560,000 respectively.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas stated the agreements address both military and municipal needs, enabling local governments to implement infrastructure projects while supporting defence priorities. “This collaboration strengthens our collective security,” he said, noting the two municipalities join a group of 12 now receiving such funding.
Funds will target social and engineering infrastructure based on local priorities. Lazdijai plans road upgrades, healthcare investments, and economic development, while Jurbarkas will focus on street lighting and emergency power solutions. The ministry clarified that local-access roads and routes to military sites remain covered by a separate 2022 funding framework.
The investments aim to improve quality of life, service accessibility, and cooperation between local communities and the armed forces, according to the ministry.
Critics, including opposition leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis, argue that air defence should take precedence over ground infrastructure. Kaunas countered that balanced development is essential: “If we focus solely on air defence while neglecting land forces, we risk weakening our overall capabilities in just a few years.” He cited parallel investments in divisional structures and infrastructure for incoming German brigade deployments.
In April, the ministry signed similar agreements with ten other municipalities hosting training ranges, including Šalčininkai, Švenčionys, and Kaunas districts.