On January 14, the Geopolitics and Security Studies Center hosted a discussion titled “The Kapčiamiestis Training Area: Its Value for Lithuania’s Defence, the Region, and the Local Community.” The event featured Lithuania’s Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas and the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Gen. Raimundas Vaikšnoras. The discussion was moderated by GSSC Senior Policy Analyst Vladimiras Laučius.
The discussion addressed Lithuania’s military training area capacities and the need to expand defence infrastructure in light of the changed security environment following Russia’s war against Ukraine. It was noted that Kapčiamiestis is considered the most strategically suitable location, with key arguments including the geographic “narrowness” of southern Lithuania and the significance of the Suwałki Corridor.
Considerable attention was paid to the need for more open and consistent dialogue with the public and the local community, clearly communicating the rationale behind decisions and the implementation process. It was emphasized that a lack of consistency in communication to date—and the resulting rise in emotional tensions—poses a challenge for both local residents and the municipality. Therefore, it is essential to provide unambiguous information about the logic of the decisions, the planned stages, and measures to mitigate negative impacts.
The discussion also covered practical aspects, including the importance of infrastructure and logistics—particularly road quality—as well as environmental commitments. Speakers highlighted the principle of responsible implementation, whereby planned works should be aligned with restorative measures.
We thank the speakers and the audience for their active engagement and a constructive discussion.
