DISINFO: Lithuania changed its decision on a new military training ground because of guilty conscience and too much money spent on the military
SUMMARY
Lithuanian authorities changed the decision to build a new military training ground in Western Lithuania due to three reasons: first, guilty conscience (because it has already too many units of military infrastructure on the territory of the country); second, to distance from decisions which were not enough discussed with other ministries and departments; third, because Lithuania already spends too much money on the military purposes in the situation when there is barely any real threat.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative aiming to undermine the armed forces of Lithuania and denying security threat from the Russian side.
The decision to delay the arrangement of a new military training ground in Western Lithuania, as Lithuanian National Defence minister Arvydas Anusauskas explained, is linked to an unclear mechanism of compensation to people who live or have a property in the area, which should be used for the mentioned military unit. The Minister promised that the question regarding new training area will be back on the agenda after implementation of necessary legislation.
Lithuania spends for military purposes more than 2 per cent of its GDP (in accordance with NATO guidelines). The concern about a security threat in Lithuania is linked to the aggressive actions of Russia. Here especially should be mentioned the illegal annexation of Crimea and Russian armed aggression in Ukraine. Ever since the 2014 Ukraine crisis, NATO and Western governments have been genuinely concerned about Russia’s increasingly aggressive foreign and military policies and the challenges posed by Russia to Transatlantic security.
See similar cases of disinformation where Lithuania is accusing of militarisation: Lithuania is buying unnecessary weapons to feed the American military industry; Lithuania is a hostage of the American interests in Eastern Europe; NATO exercises in Lithuania, named after a Lithuanian fascist group, aim to provoke Russia.