Lithuania in intensive, 'very detailed talks' with Rheinmetall – minister

VILNIUS – Lithuania is holding intensive and "very detailed talks" with Germany's arms manufacturer Rheinmetall on the construction of a new factory in the country, Economy and Innovation Minister Ausrine Armonaite said on Thursday. 

"We're continuing talks with Rheinmetall, but I can't comment on any details," she told BNS, citing the sensitivity of information as the reason. 

Armonaite refused to confirm information from BNS sources about her meeting with the company's representatives on Thursday, but said that intensive and "very detailed" talks are underway. 

Rheinmetall's top executives met with Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte last November, but neither side commented on the meeting, as reported by LNK News. 

The 15min online news site has reported recently that the new facility could produce NATO-standard 155 mm artillery shells.

In 2022, Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, another German military equipment manufacturer, set up a joint venture in Lithuania, named Lithuania Defense Services (LDS), for maintaining and repairing combat vehicles for NATO allies stationed in the Baltic Sea region. 

Since last October, the LDS facilities in the town of Jonava have been repairing Leopard 2 tanks damaged in Ukraine. 

Rheinmetall is reportedly considering building an artillery ammunition factory amid deepening defense ties between Lithuania and Germany. 

Berlin last year pledged to deploy a military brigade in Lithuania by 2027. Lithuania purchases various weapons from Germany and has recently announced its intention to buy German-made Leopard 2 tanks.