The President met with the CEO of Rheinmetall and Germany’s State Minister of Defense

On Tuesday, President Gitanas Nausėda met with Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger and Germany's State Minister of Defense Nils Schmid. The meeting focused on Lithuanian-German industrial cooperation in the field of defense, preparations for the deployment of the German brigade in Lithuania, and the growing security challenges in the region.

The President emphasized that Rheinmetall's investment in Lithuania represents a significant step in strengthening the strategic partnership between Lithuania and Germany, enhancing both countries' contributions to the development of Europe's defense industry. He invited the German company to further expand its activities in Lithuania and increase investments by taking advantage of the favorable regulatory environment Lithuania offers for the development of the defense industry.

"We value Rheinmetall's commitment to Lithuania and see great potential for further growth. Such investments create jobs and enhance the security of our country and the entire region," the President said.

During the meeting, the President encouraged Rheinmetall to continue investing in new defense industry enterprises and welcomed the start of negotiations regarding another Rheinmetall investment in Lithuania.

The President also reviewed preparations for the deployment of the German brigade, underlining that Lithuania remains fully committed to ensuring that all necessary infrastructure is in place for the brigade's arrival by the end of 2027. Construction of the Rūdninkai military town is currently ahead of schedule.

The meeting also addressed the recent increase in airspace violations, particularly the latest meteorological balloon incidents, which pose a threat to public safety. "We will never tolerate this, as the safety of our people is an absolute priority for the state," the President said. He emphasized that the repeated incidents originating from Belarusian territory are unfriendly, hybrid-type actions requiring a strong national response, as well as NATO and EU solidarity. "Unfortunately, it is difficult to expect goodwill from Belarus, even though, as a neighboring state, it should show interest," the President added.