The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide advisory services for the development of a new military base in Lithuania, which will host NATO troops, including a German brigade.

The Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania plans three PPP agreements to establish the military site in Rūdninkai, which is located about 23 kilometres south of Vilnius and will support the deployment of a German military brigade under NATO. The base will accommodate up to 4,000 troops and civilians, including infrastructure for the Lithuanian Armed Forces to service the German brigade, which will consist of up to 500 personnel. The advisory accord is part of the EIB’s recently expanded commitment to security and defence, broadening its scope to include military investments that align with the European Union’s goals of bolstering preparedness and crisis management. Additionally, the EIB is assessing potential project financing for the military base, which is expected to cost around EUR 1.2 billion (US$ 1.3 billion).

Construction of the Rūdninkai base is planned to start in 2026, and the base is expected to be operational at the beginning of 2028.