Boosting cooperation with German defense sector
by Alexander Welscher
The Baltic States are aiming to strengthen ties with the German defense sector. "For Lithuania, expanding cooperation with German industry is not just welcome. It is of strategic importance for us. We see enormous potential in joint production, maintenance, and technology development," said Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas on 25 November 2025 at the German-Baltic Defence Industry Conference in Vilnius. Similar statements could also be heard from Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur and Liene Gatare, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Latvian Ministry of Defense.
Deepening the German-Lithuanian industrial cooperation in the field of defence technology and innovation, German drone manufacturer Quantum-Systems and Lithuania's ADV Defense signed a memorandum of understanding on developing autonomous aviation systems at the event organized by the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce. Quantum Systems had already signed a memorandum of understanding with Lithuanian laser technology developer Aktyvus Photonics in May.
Present at the ceremony alongside Kaunas was also Florian Hahn, Minister of State at the German Foreign Office, who in his speech at the conference underlined the ever-closer connection between Germany and Lithuania in the fields of defense and security. "The recent groundbreaking ceremony for the Rheinmetall artillery ammunition factory in Lithuania has been a milestone in German-Lithuanian defence cooperation."
More cooperation was also the main topic of the German-Latvian Defense Industry Days on 12 and 13 November. Over two more than 170 representatives from defence and dual-use industries from both countries met in Riga to explore joint opportunities and showcase their products in an expo zone and B2B matchmaking sessions. Three weeks earlier the start of another long-term partnership was marked when the Latvian Ministry of Defence signed a 50 million euro contract with Dynamit Nobel Defence for mines and deployment systems.
