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Lithuania’s continuing negotiations with Rheinmetall may push back the start of construction of the German defence giant’s planned factory in the northern district of Radviliškis, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė says. “Since the negotiations are still ongoing, there’s not much I can comment on,” she told BNS in an interview on Wednesday. “Our goal is to achieve a good result, not a fast one, especially since these are serious commitments and serious decisions.
We’ll take as much time as is needed to reach an agreement.” “If it’s delayed by a month or two, or something like that, which is possible, it’s more important to reach a good agreement, because Lithuania, while paying a lot of attention to this project, should not take on commitments that are not in line with its interests,” Šimonytė said when asked whether the start of the construction of the 155 mm artillery ammunition factory could be delayed. The initial plan was to sign a land lease agreement with Rheinmetall in July and begin the construction of the factory in October.
The prime minister did not give specific dates for when the talks with the German company could be completed but stressed that Lithuania will stand firm on protecting its interests. “We believe that as a government, we’ve already completed many of the procedural steps in this process, including those related to the land plot and other matters. But we want to have what we need here, first and foremost,” Šimonytė said, without revealing which of Rheinmetall’s proposals do not meet Lithuania’s interests.
“We just have to agree that we are buying what we need,” she added. According to the prime minister, the talks also involve the form of management for Rheinmetall’s company in Lithuania. Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas said last week that Lithuania was negotiating with Rheinmetall the quantity and parameters of 155 mm ammunition that the country would buy from the German defence industry giant.
The talks are nearing completion, and the agreements should soon be formalised in a contract, he said. Weekly newsletter every Friday.
