Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda hailed the decision by the German company Rheinmetall to build an ammunition production plant in Lithuania as a long-awaited step in strengthening the country's defense industry.

His statement was reported by LRT.

"The investments by Rheinmetall are indeed a very important and long-awaited step in strengthening our defense industry, as it is also a priority for the European Union," said Nauseda.

According to him, the Rheinmetall plant is being built, among other reasons, to support Ukraine.

"This is also done to support Ukraine in its liberation struggle and for our own strength, the productivity of our defense industry, so that we depend less on the supply chain in the global market," said the Lithuanian president.

Recall that on April 16, Lithuania signed a memorandum of understanding with the German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall, laying the foundation for the construction of an artillery ammunition plant in the country.

Recently, a package of legislative amendments was presented to the Lithuanian parliament to allow major Western arms and ammunition manufacturers, including Rheinmetall, to establish their production facilities in Lithuania as soon as possible.