Lithuania Preparing To Counter Hybrid Threats On Border With Belarus

4.09.2024, 16:24
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Border guards are being rearmed.

Lithuania is increasing the armament of its border guards with automatic weapons. Today, the State Border Guard Service announced the transfer of the last batch of G-36 automatic rifles manufactured by the German company Heckler & Koch to the border guards.

By the end of the year, it is also planned to deliver Belgian FN MINIMI light machine guns worth about 3 million euros.

“In this way, Lithuania is seeking to better prepare for possible hybrid threats on the border with Belarus,” the statement said.

The ceremony of handing over the weapons was attended by the Ministers of Defense and the Interior Laurynas Kaščiūnas and Agnė Bilotaitė. Kaščiūnas noted that although the rifles will be used by the border guards, they will formally remain the property of the army.

“All received weapons will be deployed in service units as close as possible to the external border of Lithuania and the EU. We are currently actively cooperating with the Ministry of National Defense and the Lithuanian Army, organizing the training of our officers. It is very important that along with this weaponry, the army will transfer all the necessary ammunition that we need both for training and for further work,” said head of the State Border Guard Service Rustam Lyubayev.

A total of about 10 million euros were allocated for the rearmament of Lithuanian border guards. The old weapons will be transferred to Ukraine.