In a significant strategic shift, the European Union is preparing to increase funding for border security in its “frontline states” – a new term Brussels uses for Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland, all of which border Russia or Belarus. This move, to be discussed at an upcoming informal EU summit, signals a hardening of the bloc’s eastern frontier in response to what is perceived as a long-term threat from the east.
Even before a formal EU-wide decision, the Baltic states are taking matters into their own hands. Estonia’s plans are particularly ambitious, involving the creation of a formidable defensive line along its border with Russia. According to the Estonian Defense Forces, the project includes over 40 kilometers of anti-tank ditches and approximately 600 bunkers, which are expected to be completed or ready for rapid deployment by the end of 2027.
This defensive buildup is a coordinated regional effort. Concrete anti-tank obstacles, known as “dragon’s teeth,” have already been installed not only in Estonia but also in Latvia and Lithuania. Latvia’s defense procurement center has been stockpiling tens of thousands of defensive elements, including concrete blocks and anti-tank hedgehogs. Recent tenders sought to acquire thousands more fortification posts, concrete blocks, and other barriers, all intended to create a near-impenetrable border.
Reinforcing this trend, Finland is set to receive approximately €1.6 billion from the EU to fortify its own border, a figure nearly three times its previous allocation. With the funds scheduled for release starting in 2028, it is clear that the EU is preparing for a scenario where heightened tensions with Russia are a lasting reality, not a temporary crisis.
The focus of these fortifications represents a fundamental change in the EU’s approach to border security. Whereas previous efforts were primarily aimed at curbing illegal migration, especially in the Mediterranean, the bloc is now heavily investing in military-grade engineering structures on its eastern edge. Finland, for example, plans to use its EU funds to construct a “drone wall” – a sophisticated system designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles. This modern defense initiative may be built in areas once protected by the historic Mannerheim Line, a powerful symbol of Finnish resistance against Soviet invasion.
This wave of construction is more than just a policy decision; it reflects a profound shift in public opinion across the region. In these frontline nations, Russia is now widely viewed as a direct and enduring threat, a stark reversal of the sentiment that prevailed just a few years ago when such fortifications would have been considered a relic of a bygone era.