In today’s geopolitical climate, infrastructure is more than transport – it is strategy. In the opinion article below, Marko Kivila, Chairman of the Management Board of RB Rail AS, shares his insights on how Rail Baltica is becoming a vital element in Europe’s defence posture and the Baltic region’s security resilience.
Rail Baltica is often mentioned as an economic and environmentally friendly transport project, but its true significance in the context of Baltic regional security is becoming increasingly clear. This is not merely infrastructure – it is a vital artery in our collective defence system. The current geopolitical situation confirms that Rail Baltica is one of the most important pillars of national security, a view increasingly echoed by international security experts and leading media outlets. It means that the Baltics not only gain a connection to Europe but also a stronger role in its protection.
Filling the security gap that Rail Baltica addresses
The Baltic states still largely rely on the Soviet legacy of broad-gauge rail networks, which are incompatible with European standards. This not only hampers economic integration with the West but also limits the ability of our countries to respond swiftly in crisis situations – both military and civilian. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has acknowledged that Russia poses a serious long-term threat to the Alliance’s territory, and that strengthening both defence capabilities and the infrastructure to respond rapidly to any threat is critical. Rail Baltica is a key step toward enabling Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to meet today’s security demands.
The ability to move people and equipment – a critical factor
Rail Baltica is more than a transport link – it is part of a broader strategic vision that reflects the Baltic states’ full membership in NATO and the EU’s security space. Ukraine’s experience starkly illustrates the importance of having efficient and readily available rail infrastructure during crises – for both military mobility and civilian evacuation. Rail Baltica’s security dimension is underscored not only by defence experts but also by international media – for instance, recent analyses by The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg have emphasized the project’s role in enabling NATO force mobility and strengthening regional security.
According to the cost-benefit analysis, a fully operational Rail Baltica route could play a significant role in ensuring the mobility of people during emergencies, offering an alternative transport corridor to Poland. Equally crucial is the mobility of military equipment – one 40-car train can replace a seven-kilometre-long convoy of trucks. In terms of speed, it is estimated that military transport times could be reduced to just 24 hours.
Rail Baltica as a deterrence mechanism
International security experts, including the Atlantic Council, have pointed out that the current Baltic infrastructure is insufficient for the timely movement of NATO forces in the region. In this context, Rail Baltica is not a matter of convenience or development – it is also a strategically important initiative for the region’s security and resilience. The development of such infrastructure serves as a deterrent, sending a clear signal that the region is not isolated and that Western allies are capable of providing real support if needed. This project provides not only new mobility options but also a stable and timely platform for defence and crisis response throughout the region. Ukraine’s ambassador to Latvia, Anatolii Kutsevol, has emphasized the particular importance of Rail Baltica’s inclusion in the TEN-T corridor, which will extend to Ukraine, enhancing regional connectivity, integration, and security. In this light, Rail Baltica becomes a symbol of both military unity and European solidarity.
The Baltic duty to Europe’s defence
Rail Baltica is a vital security corridor that reinforces our region’s place in Europe’s collective defence system. The project represents not just new opportunities for mobility, but a stable and timely platform for defence and crisis response throughout the region. Rail Baltica is not a dream of the future – it is a responsibility of the present. Every month of delay not only drives up costs but undermines allied trust. Rail Baltica is a test of logistics and credibility for the entire region – one that we must pass with excellence, for the sake of ourselves and our allies.