EIB backs Lithuania with €300 million to strengthen defence and reinforce EU security

EIB backs Lithuania with €300 million to strengthen defence and reinforce EU security

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €300 million loan to strengthen Lithuania’s defence infrastructure, marking over €1 billion in total EIB support to the country’s defence in 2025. The financing will fund key investments in logistics, training, and military equipment as part of Lithuania’s 2024–2030 defence plan, complementing earlier funding for the new NATO base in Rūdninkai. The move reinforces EU crisis preparedness and underscores Lithuania’s strategic role on NATO’s Eastern front. The EIB’s expanded mandate now allows direct investments in military capabilities, with 30 similar operations under development across the EU.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 7-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced a €300 million loan to the Lithuanian government to bolster military infrastructure and strengthen Europe’s eastern defences. This financing marks another milestone in the EIB’s growing commitment to European security and crisis preparedness, bringing total support for Lithuania’s defence initiatives to more than €1 billion in 2025.

The new funding will be directed toward key investments such as harbour boats for piloting and towing, medical transport and equipment, and modern infrastructure for residential, administrative, training, transport, and logistics purposes. These enhancements will support the Lithuanian Armed Forces and help the country meet NATO operational requirements.

This loan forms part of a wider €500 million investment package approved by the EIB for Lithuania’s defence initiatives and complements a €540 million loan signed earlier this year for the NATO base in Rūdninkai, including advisory support. Together, these projects underscore Lithuania’s growing role as a cornerstone of NATO’s deterrence posture in the Baltics.

Lithuanian Minister of Finance Kristupas Vaitiekūnas welcomed the EIB partnership, stating, “Within just a year, the EIB has provided over one billion euros in support for Lithuania’s defence investments. These are crucial for reinforcing our national security and contributing to Europe’s collective safety. We value the EIB’s ability to rapidly mobilize resources and respond effectively to member states’ needs.”

EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer, responsible for operations in Lithuania, emphasized that the agreement highlights the Bank’s evolving role in supporting EU members along the Eastern border. “Lithuania has shown leadership in strengthening Europe’s collective resilience. We are proud to contribute to investments that safeguard both national and European stability,” he said.

The EIB loan, which carries a 25-year maturity, will co-finance Lithuania’s 2024–2030 defence investment plan. It comes as part of the EIB Group’s broader effort to triple security and defence investments to more than 3.5% of annual lending this year. The Bank has also broadened its mandate to include projects directly supporting military applications — a major strategic shift.

Currently, the EIB has a pipeline of around 30 flagship defence-related operations across the EU, targeting key priorities such as protecting borders and critical infrastructure, boosting industrial capacity, supporting military mobility, advancing technological innovation, and enabling small and medium-sized defence suppliers to access finance. These projects align with Europe’s broader effort to strengthen deterrence capabilities and reinforce the security of its Eastern flank.

Background information  

EIB Group

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, the EIB finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world. The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

Since 2024, the EIB Group has made security and defence a strategic priority, revising its lending policy and launching a dedicated Security and Defence Office. In 2025, it aims to allocate €3.5 billion (3.5% of total financing) to defence-related projects. The Group is reviewing around 80 proposals that strengthen EU security, in close coordination with NATO, the European Commission, and other partners.

High-quality, up-to-date photos of the EIB Group’s headquarters for media use are available here.

Media contact:
Kristiina Randmaa
k.randmaa@ext.eib.org
+352 4379 – 72894

Press Office
press@eib.org
+352 43791

SOURCE: European Investment Bank