Lithuanian military to guard LNG terminal amid warnings of Russian provocations

Lithuania’s Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas signed an order on July 17 authorising the deployment of military personnel to strengthen the protection of the country’s critical infrastructure. From July 19 to August 19, troops will guard the liquefied natural gas terminal in Klaipėda, the LitPol Link electricity interconnection with Poland (including the Alytus switchyard and transformer substation), and the Kruonis Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Plant.

The armed forces will provide a unit of up to 30 troops with transport assets, along with a vessel or motorboat and its crew. Operational tasks will be coordinated with the Public Security Service, which is responsible for protecting Lithuania’s critical infrastructure.

The move follows recent public warnings by leaders of NATO’s eastern flank, who cited intelligence indicating that Russia may be preparing kinetic provocations within their countries. President Gitanas Nausėda said last week that Lithuania’s critical transport and energy infrastructure could become targets of both conventional and nonconventional attacks, including acts of sabotage.

On Tuesday, Deividas Matulionis, the president’s chief national security adviser, said NATO allies would deploy additional military capabilities to Lithuania if Russian provocations in the region triggered a critical security situation. He said the alliance was taking the warnings seriously and would be prepared to reinforce Lithuania with additional forces and air defence capabilities if necessary.