EU backs €100 million loan to turn Lithuania's Klaipeda port into NATO naval hub

The European Investment Bank announced a €100 million loan to transform the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda into a NATO-ready naval hub. Situated roughly 50 kilometers north of Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, the port's civilian cruise terminal will be refurbished to accommodate NATO warships, enhancing logistical support for the alliance's eastern defence. The loan represents nearly half of the €201 million total budget, with the balance expected from EU and Lithuanian contributions.

Klaipeda is a node in the EU's TEN-T transport network, which aims to upgrade both civilian and military routes by 2030, although other projects such as Rail Baltica are experiencing delays. This financing aligns with the EU's expanding defence portfolio since 2025 and its ongoing support for Ukraine, while EU lawmakers debate a new military-mobility law that could streamline troop and equipment movements across the continent.