On May 26 the U.S. rotational presence changeover began. The incoming rotation arrived via railway to Kaunas Intermodal Terminal and unloaded thus inaugurating the exploitation of the joint military mobility project of the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Communication.
“A smooth and swift deployment of allied forces and military equipment into our region is one of the overriding elements in deterrence policy. We have to develop military mobility, new infrastructure and replace the dated Soviet railway infrastructure in the country so that the new one is suitable for both, civilian and military needs. The improving situation on the matter is very welcome and soon we will have even better conditions for allied force movement in the strategically important city of Kaunas,” says Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
The first project of constructions of a loading area at Palemonas will begin on EU financing that Lithuania received for the dual use (civilian and military) project.
Improvement of military mobility across Europe relies on adaptation of dual use infrastructure to serve military needs and on synchronization and simplification of the procedures states apply for military transit. It is one of the most important areas of NATO-EU cooperation that also enjoys a particular U.S. attention.
“We are very happy to welcome the 1-66 heavy battalion in Lithuania which is the fifth U.S. Army armor battalion that calls Lithuania home since 2019 September. It is particularly enjoyable to be the first military unit to use the new intermodal Kaunas railway terminal as proper infrastructure is vital for military mobility in the region,” underscored Ambassador of the U.S. to Lithuania HE Robert Gilchrist.
The EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-27 earmarks EUR 1,69 billion for EU-wide military mobility improvement. The European Commission issued the first invitation for member states to apply for co-funding of implementation of dual use projects for military mobility infrastructure in 2021. The projects will financed under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The EU announced the selection results of the first round of applications in April 2022: Lithuania was granted the most significant co-financing that amounted to EUR 73,3 million (EUR 60 million for Via Baltica section from Marijampolė to Polish border and EUR 13,3 million for the railway loading site at Palemonas) among the EU member states.
Constructions of the loading site will encompass building three arrival-departure tracts at 1435 mm gauge station which will enable arrival of three trains with military equipment at one time; building a lot accommodating 300 military and civilian vehicles; reconstruction of dual purpose loading ramps; building sound barriers; reconstruction of 1500 m-long segment of Palemonas street.
Further Military mobility priorities for Lithuania will concern reconstruction of Via Baltica highway from Marijampolė to Polish border, building of a Jonava southeastern detour road, reconstruction of bridges on Vilnius–Klaipėda highway, traffic control improvements along the Kaunas-Polish border railway segment, Kaunas Airport aircraft parking platform extension and accommodation to military requirements. There are also other road, railway, airport and seaport projects that would ensure movement of allied forces across the Lithuanian-Polish border and to major military training areas in Lithuania and would answer to other military mobility needs.
