Global law firm Clifford Chance advised the European Investment Bank (EIB), AB SEB Bankas (SEB) and Swedbank on the EUR 369 million financing provided to UAB Merko Statyba, supporting the development of the second phase of the Rūdninkai Defence Force Campus in Lithuania.
In January 2026, UAB VPSP B and UAB VPSP C, project companies established by UAB Merko Statyba, entered into two separate public-private partnership (PPP) agreements with the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania for the design and construction of parts B and C of the Rūdninkai military infrastructure. The works comprise the development of engineering networks, roads, training grounds, administrative buildings, storage and maintenance facilities, sports infrastructure and other supporting structures across the site.
The financing supports both phases of the project. For part B, EIB and SEB each provided EUR 86 million, bringing the total financing to EUR 172 million. For part C, EIB contributed EUR 98.4 million and Swedbank EUR 98.5 million, for a combined total of EUR 196.9 million.
The transaction represents a significant milestone in the delivery of one of the largest defence infrastructure projects in the Baltic region. It also ranks among Lithuania’s most substantial defence investments since the country regained its independence in 1991.
Located near the strategically important Suwałki Gap, the future military campus will accommodate around 4,000 German troops and 750 civilian personnel and will span approximately 170 hectares. The deployment marks Germany’s first permanent military presence abroad since the Second World War, underlining the strategic importance of the project for both Germany and its NATO allies.
The Clifford Chance cross-border team was led in Paris by Delphine Siino Courtin, partner, Maxence De Rouville and Jorge Portocarrero, associates, on the project and financing aspects, and included Sandy Hall, partner, and Tom Pemberton, senior associate (London), on the construction and O&M aspects, Florian Mahler, partner, Birte Hüller, senior associate, and Rima Lenders, senior transaction lawyer (Düsseldorf), on the specific German law aspects, as well as David Neu, partner, Christopher Banks, senior associate, and Asia Racines Carugo, associate (Munich), on the hedging aspects.
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