Poland and the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have formulated the proposals in a letter sent to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
In the letter, it can be read, among other things, that “a defense system along the EU’s external border with Russia and Belarus will meet the acute and urgent need to protect the EU from military hybrid threats”.
The countries, which during the Cold War were on the eastern side of the Iron Curtain, have long warned of the threat from Russia.
Already strengthened the border
Several of the leaders of the Baltic countries have made themselves known for their uncompromising tone towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Poland’s military rearmament has been rampant since February 2022.
Poland has also increased its military spending to four percent of GDP, and has already strengthened its own border with Russia and Belarus.
The letter that the countries came together and wrote comes in the wake of increased Russian sabotage against the West.
Could cost 30 billion
Both American and European intelligence reports claim that Russian sabotage, most likely orchestrated by the Russian military intelligence service GRU, has increased in intensity recently.
The sabotage often consists of arson and is intended to divide people and undermine support for Ukraine.
The cost of the defensive line is not small money. According to estimates from EU representatives, it could cost almost SEK 30 billion.
Exactly what the defensive line will look like is unclear.