Lithuania is expanding defence industry cooperation with German companies in Lithuania, says Minister of National Defence D. Šakalienė
Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence
2025-07-29
German brigade in Lithuania | International cooperation
On July 29 Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė and Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil who is conducting a visit to Lithuania met to discuss strategic Lithuanian-German defence cooperation. Minister also focussed on stationing the German Brigade in Lithuanian and expansion of industrial cooperation, especially through joint projects with German defence industry companies in Lithuania.
Minister D. Šakalienė underscored that Germany remained one of Lithuania's key partners in defence: Lithuania's current total of defence procurement from Germany exceeds EUR 2 billion. Also, collaboration with German defence industry companies in Lithuania is expanded by increasing manufacturing and service capabilities.
"The strategic cooperation between our countries is already modifying the regional security architecture. Over EUR 2 billion worth of acquisitions, Brigade stationing in Lithuania and the largest military infrastructure project ever pursued are all elements of a focused development of deterrence and collective defence system based on a clear understanding of real threat. Besides, we are also expanding industrial cooperation with Germany's Rheinmetall and KNDS in Lithuania, which not only strengthens our regional but also presents to Europe an excellent opportunity of diversification, establishment of secure supply chains and real operational interoperability. This partnership takes shape as a practical model of defence cooperation turning into a long-term European military might," said Minister D. Šakalienė.
A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to industrial cooperation. Lithuania is consistently stepping up partnership with German defence industry companies aiming mutually beneficial defence industry ecosystem. The cooperation with Rheinmetall is developed to build a complete chain of ammunition and explosives production in Lithuania. Also, talks on establishment of a technical maintenance and logistics base for the benefit both Lithuanian and German Armed Forces are continued with KNDS.
Other topics of the meeting included progress made on stationing the German Brigade in Lithuania: over the course of less than two years, the Roadmap Action Plan was signed, the bilateral agreement ratified and constructions of the Rūdninkai Training Area are proceeding according to schedule. All the core infrastructure -the headquarters, technical maintenance hubs, barracks, medical facility, mess hall - will be ready by the end of 2027, while the remainder (physical fitness infrastructure, helipads, etc.) - until mid-2028. It is the largest military infrastructure project in the history of Lithuania worth of approx. EUR 2.2 billion, in total.
Ministers also discussed the EU defence policy and financing prospects. Lithuania supports such EU initiatives as ReARM Europe, SAFE Fund, White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030, and call for their immediate implementation. The Government of Lithuania is planned to use the instruments intensely while also employing means of fiscal flexibility to further boost national defence capabilities.
Ministers also reviewed the results of the NATO Summit in The Hague. D. Šakalienė pointed out that a strong transatlantic bond and the commitment to increasing defence spending were critical to respond to the threats posed by Russia. Lithuania plans committing 5% of GDP for defence as soon as next year.
When discussing Ukraine, Minister D. Šakalienė welcomed the German decision to hand over to Ukraine the Patriot weaponry and thanked for the substantial contribution to the Demining Capability Fund. Minister also noted the Lithuania planned to actively contribute to the Coalition of the Willing.
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