Baltic States agree to move capabilities unrestricted across borders

Defence ministers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania agreed to create a Military Mobility Area (MMA) spanning their three nations, allowing for the unrestricted flow of military assets across borders to bolster security on NATO’s Eastern Flank.

Military Schengen zone

The MMA will enable the consolidation of resources to areas with the greatest security needs, with Lithuania’s military assets able to move freely towards Riga, Estonia’s artillery supporting Vilnius, and Latvian capabilities backing up Tallinn, and vice versa, according to Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas.

Despite Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the Baltic States remain vulnerable to Russian strategic ambitions, and defence experts anticipate potential conflicts in the coming years. If Russia were to engage the Baltic States, it would likely perceive them as a single adversary, seeking to cut them off from NATO allies via the Suwalki Gap and at sea.

The creation of the MMA aims to remove bureaucratic obstacles to a collective defence posture. “Every hour is critical in a crisis, we cannot let the walls of bureaucracy undercut our defence,” Kaunas said.

The three nations also discussed expanding this military corridor to the rest of Europe, forming a “military Schengen” zone. While achievable among the Baltic States, extending the concept continentally will prove challenging due to differing technical infrastructure specifications.

For example, only one road connects Poland and Lithuania, and their railway gauges are different, leading to transport delays. The European Court of Auditors noted last year that “tanks from one EU country cannot move through another if they are heavier than road traffic regulations allow.” The EU has identified 500 priority infrastructure projects needing attention, and the €150bn Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan instrument will help member states finance infrastructure improvements.

Military mobility extends beyond land transportation, encompassing strategic lift capabilities, bridge reinforcement, and railway upgrades. A logistical legacy of the Second World War, Europe’s extensive road network also supports mobility.