Germany's Rheinmetall boosts NATO defenses with Baltic weapons plant

DW (English)

German defense company Rheinmetall is building a factory for artillery shells in Lithuania. The goal is to strengthen the defense capabilities of the Baltic region and Europe.

Transcript

00:01It's a groundbreaking moment, quite literally.

00:04In Beisugala, central Lithuania, construction has begun on a factory

00:08that will produce tens of thousands of 155 mm artillery shells.

00:14The goal? To bolster defence capabilities across Lithuania, the Baltics and Europe.

00:20The German defence giant Rheinmetall is behind the project.

00:24The facility will span 340 hectares, with production expected to begin in just a few months.

00:31I think it's a very important project, especially on the eastern flank, because of the logistics.

00:37If you see, for example, that we all produce our ammunition in Germany or in the western part of Europe,

00:44the logistics is a big problem, usually.

00:47Rheinmetall is going to invest 300 million euros directly here in Lithuania

00:52and create 150 new jobs here in the region.

00:55It's a significant boost for the local economy

00:58and a strategic step in Germany's long-term commitment to its Baltic ally.

01:06This partnership between two EU and NATO members has taken on new urgency

01:10since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

01:13For Lithuania, it's about deterrence, not just defence.

01:16This friendship and cooperation for us means a lot.

01:21And it means that we are not only one in whole Europe.

01:26We are working in a team.

01:28So it brings us a more secure feeling and we feel safe.

01:36Just weeks ago, another major step in Germany's military presence in the Baltics.

01:41Defence Minister Boris Pistorius officially opened the Bundeswehr's new logistics centre in Rukla, Lithuania.

01:49It's part of a broader strategy to strengthen NATO's eastern flank.

01:54Like the planned ammunition factory in Baysogala, the logistics hub in Rukla marks a long-term German commitment in the region.

02:02Over the next two years, the Bundeswehr will establish a full brigade in the Baltic states.

02:08Five thousand soldiers supported by logistics units, military police, administrative staff, chaplains and even a German school.

02:16We don't want to be an island here just for ourselves.

02:28We want to be part of the Lithuanian community. That is our goal.

02:32It is important to us to teach German children about Lithuanian traditions.

02:43Meanwhile, Germany's defence industry is booming.

02:46Rheinmetall hopes its new ammunition factory will serve as another milestone in Europe's expanding defence ambitions.

02:53The war in Ukraine has triggered a surge in defence spending across Western nations.

02:59For Rheinmetall, this could mean billions in additional revenue in the coming years.

03:04Princess Lein Junior.

03:09ROMzilla línea.

03:10Let us know it's the first time and time and time.

03:14Let us see, Tobias Neversentro.

03:17Since everyone is present, we will join thenehins.

03:22Can we no longer have a PO of our world?

03:27It has been

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