Latvia will accelerate plans to establish a joint drone manufacturing facility with Ukraine and aims to locate it near the country’s eastern border region, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said following an emergency cabinet meeting held in Latgale.
The meeting took place at the National Armed Forces base “Lūznava” in the Rēzekne area and included visits to local businesses and discussions with municipal representatives. Kulbergs described the session as “constructive,” adding that decision-making outside the capital provides a clearer understanding of regional challenges.
He emphasized that security concerns dominate public priorities in Latgale, noting that insufficient security negatively affects tourism and economic activity in the region.
Kulbergs announced that an anti-drone system is expected to be deployed along Latvia’s entire border with Russia and Belarus in July or August. The system is intended to reduce the need to use air force assets against every drone threat, although he acknowledged it will be costly.
Latvia’s Defense Minister Raivis Melnis said he had visited an air defense position in the border region equipped with Latvian-made drone interceptor systems, which are planned for broader deployment along the frontier.
Melnis also confirmed that the cabinet discussed increasing the presence of the National Armed Forces in Latgale.
Kulbergs recently signed a bilateral defense cooperation agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, aimed at strengthening cooperation in air defense and unmanned systems and transferring Ukraine’s battlefield experience in countering drone threats.
The agreement includes provisions for joint production of defense technologies, including drones and related systems. Ukrainian expertise in unmanned systems and air defense is expected to play a central role in the cooperation framework.
Latvian officials said they intend to remove administrative barriers and create “green corridors” to speed up the establishment of the planned production facility. Kulbergs stressed that Latgale needs new investment and jobs, expressing hope that construction could begin this year.
The government reiterated that Ukraine will contribute operational experience and technical knowledge gained during its defense against large-scale drone warfare, while Latvia provides industrial capacity and regional infrastructure support.
