Minister of National Defence R. Kaunas to see Federal Minister of Defence of Germany

On January 26 Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas will pay a visit to Berlin where he will meet with Federal Minister of Defence of Germany Boris Pistorius. They will discuss bilateral cooperation, defence acquisitions and defence industrial cooperation, regional security situation, assistance to Ukraine, and development of infrastructure for the German Brigade in Lithuania.

"Today, Lithuania and Germany are enhancing the new security infrastructure in Europe. We must keep going and deepen our cooperation. The German leadership in protecting the eastern flank of NATO is invaluable," says Minister of National Defence R. Kaunas.

Lithuania and Germany are strategic partners who have taken the security and defence partnership to a new level in the recent years to reflect the growing security challenges in the region. Deployment of the German Brigade in Lithuania is the centerpiece of the cooperation and Lithuania views the stationing and corresponding host National Support as one of the key priorities.

Lithuania has committed to provide all necessary infrastructure for the German Brigade and the works are in full swing: Rūdninkai Military Campus is developed according to the schedule, the first phase is actually ahead even. Contracts of the second phase were signed on January 15. Priority infrastructure and interim solutions required for the Brigade stationing will be in place by late 2027.

Both countries also collaborate actively in the area of defence. The Ministry of National Defence signed a memorandum on industrial cooperation on creation of assembly and maintenance infrastructure of the Leopard 2 A8main battle tanks in Lithuania with the international partners KNDS Deutschland, Rheinmetall Landsysteme and the state-owned energy group EPSO-G. 25.1% of shares of Lithuania Defense Services (LDS), controlled by KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall Landsysteme are planned to be owned by EPSO-G Invest.