The Lithuanian government is set to grant special status to German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall’s planned artillery ammunition factory in Radviliskis, BNS reports. The move would allow the company to begin building the factory without the usual regulatory permits, which will need to be obtained before the project’s completion, however. Construction is expected to start in…
The prime ministers of the three Baltic States will meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 6 May 2024 in the Latvian capital, Riga, LETA reports. The meeting will focus on security and defence, EU affairs, support for Ukraine, economic cooperation, and regional energy and transport projects. According to Latvia’s State Chancellery, Baltic leaders have…
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that the likely nomination of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO’s new secretary general raised the question of whether the alliance has first-rank and second-rank members, Politico reported. She pointed out that Rutte would be the fourth NATO chief from the Netherlands. “Are we equals or are we…
Lithuania’s permanent population totalled 2,886,500 people in the beginning of 2024, which was 29,000 (1%) more than in the same period of 2023, according to the State Data Agency (VDA), BNS reports. Around 22,000 permanent residents emigrated from Lithuania in 2023, which was up 44% from 15,300 in 2022. Some 12,000 foreigners and 10,000 Lithuanian…
Lithuania is holding “intensive and very detailed” talks with Germany’s Rheinmetall on opening a new factory in the country, Economy Minister Ausrine Armonaite announced, BNS reports. Rheinmetall’s top management met with Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte in November 2023. According to 15min, the new factory could produce NATO-standard 155mm artillery shells. Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann have…
Lithuania’s State Defence Council (VGT) has agreed to buy German-made Leopard 2 tanks for a planned new army division, Kestutis Budrys, chief national security adviser to President Gitanas Nauseda, announced, BNS reports. The council tasked the Defence Ministry to begin negotiations with German manufacturers and other countries interested in procuring the equipment. Also, the council…
Germany’s Bundeswehr expects that the German brigade to be deployed in Lithuania will be made up of volunteers, Major General Ruprecht von Butler, commander of the German 10th Panzer Division, said, BNS reports. He assured that there would be enough troops willing to volunteer. Germany will deploy around 5,000 troops to Lithuania over 2025-2026, and…
Latvia and Lithuania were among the largest exporters of beer to Russia in 2023, LRT reported, citing Russian news agency RIA Novosti. According to the report, the value of Lithuania’s beer exports to Russia amounted to USD 36.5mn in 2023, which was up by 1.9 times from 2022, accounting for just over 15% of Russia’s…
Latvia’s national air carrer, airBaltic, could offer direct flights from Lithuania to distant destinations, Simonas Bartkus, CEO of Lithuania’s airport operator, Lietuvos Oro Uostai (LTOU), suggested, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Bartkus said that airBaltic could offer flights to more distant destinations that are important for business travel. Also, airBaltic could…