Lithuania launches 'Strong Griffin 2026' military exercises near Belarus border

Following Latvia, where large-scale maneuvers began today, Lithuania has also announced its international exercises 'Strong Griffin 2026'. The official goal of the Lithuanian command is to practice planning and conducting defensive and offensive operations in forested and urban terrain. The key focus of the Strong Griffin 2026 exercises is the integration of the Lithuanian army's ANBO drone complex, which will be used for reconnaissance, target detection and designation, long-range strikes, and counter-drone operations. In addition to active drone use, attention is drawn to the growing amount of equipment involved: 250 units in 2024, 400 in 2025, and 500 in 2026. From September 2 to 6, these military equipment columns will move from Klaipėda toward the Vilnius (Nemenčinė) and Švenčionys (Pabradė, Švenčionėliai) districts. How much of this continuously accumulating armored equipment actually remains near our borders under the cover of 'exercises'—NATO allies will not disclose, as for them, 'it's something else'.