'Dragon's teeth' and ditches: Plan to strengthen border approved in Latvia
Photo: dragon's teeth and ditches: a plan to strengthen the border was approved in Latvia (mil.in.ua)
On Tuesday, March 5, the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia approved a military strengthening plan for the eastern border with Russia and Belarus, costing 303 million euros, according to the Telegram channel Delfi Lithuania.
It is noted that the strategy for strengthening defense and mobility on the eastern border is a component of the Baltic Defense Line. It will involve the placement of support points for units of the National Armed Forces along the border with Russia and Belarus.
These defense structures include fortified positions, obstacles, anti-tank ditches, and ammunition depots. Over the course of five years, the defense sector will invest 303 million euros in fortifying the border, with work scheduled to commence in March.
The strengthening of the border in Latvia will begin with road excavations and the construction of berms, followed by the construction of trenches.
Various obstacles will also be installed, including reinforcing anti-tank ditches with concrete structures known as dragon's teeth and anti-tank mines. The placement of obstacles will be adapted to the terrain, utilizing natural barriers such as swamps, forests, and other natural features, as mentioned in the announcement.
Safe storage facilities for explosives, mines, and engineering-technical materials will also be installed. Plans for the preparation of roads, railways, and bridges will be developed to impede potential enemy advances.
In 2024, China plans to significantly increase defense spending. The country aims to boost defense expenditures by 7.2%, marking the highest growth in the past five years.
According to a report from the Ministry of Finance published on Tuesday, the central government's military spending is expected to reach 1.67 trillion yuan (231 billion USD) this year.
Over the past thirty years, China's military spending has increased annually by at least 6.6%. However, analysts believe that the actual amount Beijing spends significantly exceeds official figures, particularly due to insufficient inclusion of expenses for research and development.
China currently possesses the world's largest navy in terms of the number of ships and is actively expanding its aircraft carrier fleet. Additionally, China, the United States, and Russia are the only three countries producing fifth-generation fighter jets.
