Latvia to build a drone manufacturing plant near the border with Belarus
Latvia, together with Ukraine, plans to build a plant for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Latgale region, near the country's eastern border. This was reported by Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs after an extraordinary government meeting at the Luznava military base.
Illustrative image. Photo: Jens Büttner picture alliance via Getty Images
According to the Latvian Prime Minister, the project will be implemented within the framework of an interstate agreement on cooperation in the field of defense, signed with Ukraine in early June. The Latvian government intends to accelerate the creation of a joint venture.
Kulbergs noted that security issues are of particular importance for Latgale, which borders Belarus and Russia. According to him, the development of the region, including tourism and other sectors of the economy, depends on the level of security.
In addition, he announced that a drone countermeasures system is planned to be deployed on the Latvian border with Belarus and Russia already in July or August. The goal is to achieve by the end of the year a level of drone defense comparable to that of Ukraine, thanks to its wartime experience.
The agreement between Latvia and Ukraine also provides for the transfer of Ukrainian experience to the Latvian side in the field of countering unmanned systems, airspace defense, and the development of air defense assets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously noted that this cooperation entails not only joint production but also the strengthening of both countries' defense capabilities through the use of Ukraine's practical experience.