US could make weapons in the Baltics, Lithuania Prime Minister suggests

With U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration pushing for the European Union (EU) to purchase more American weapons, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas suggests that the production of such weapons could take place in the Baltic States. He stated that Lithuania, along with the other Baltic countries, would be willing to jointly invest in developing the U.S. defence industry in the region. 

“Speaking of procurements, we have an offer for the US as well. Let us do this defence industry business together. Open factories here. We are ready to invest together in the defence industry and ensure that part of it is immediately acquired for defence purposes and part of it can be exported,” Paluckas told at a press conference in Riga last week. (ELTA News Agency). 

The Prime Minister continued by stating that the U.S. President could view the Baltic defence policy positively. 

“We remember the Trump era when he came to Europe and made it very clear: ‘Enough of riding on our backs—show some effort.’ So I can confidently say that the Baltic countries are demonstrating that effort. Poland is also taking action. We have every moral right to speak up and expect that the interests of our region will remain firmly on the U.S. political agenda,” he said (ELTA News Agency). 

In a decisive move to bolster its defence capabilities, Lithuania has pledged to allocate between 5% and 6% of its GDP to military spending annually from 2026 to 2030. This significant investment aims to enhance the nation’s operational readiness and expedite the establishment of a national military division.  

To facilitate rapid development in its defence sector, Lithuania has introduced legislative amendments that reduce administrative hurdles for foreign defence companies. These reforms allow large-scale defence projects to bypass certain bureaucratic procedures, enabling companies to commence construction without prior permits and shortening facility setup times from two years to six months. German defence manufacturer Rheinmetall has capitalized on this streamlined process, partnering with Lithuania to construct a state-of-the-art 155mm artillery ammunition plant in Baisogala. The plant, spanning 340 hectares, is expected to commence operations by mid-2026, significantly boosting both national and regional defence production capabilities. 

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This article is based on information provided by ELTA News Agency.