Lithuania’s leadership has approved plans to establish a division, which would be the first time the country has fielded such a military unit. However, experts in defence have expressed

concerns that Lithuania’s military resembles a one-battle army and much needs to be done for the plans to become a reality.

Currently, Lithuania has two brigades with around 11,000 soldiers in full-time service, and the creation of a division would require a lot of money as a unit commands several brigades. The cost of establishing a division is estimated to be around 6 billion euros, which is three times as much as this year's annual defence spending of over 2.5% of GDP.

Experts suggest a light division would be the best option for Lithuania, but the country also needs tanks, and around 100 tanks would be needed for the division to have an impact on the battlefield. The creation of a division is aligned with NATO defence plans, and the allies have promised to compensate in part, with an allied division assigned to Lithuania before it creates its own. Photo by 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command from Grafenwoehr, Germany, Wikimedia commons.