Latvia to build joint drone factory with Ukraine near Russian border
Latvia and Ukraine will establish a joint drone production facility in Latvia’s eastern border region near the Russian and Belarusian borders, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has said.
Ukrainian UAVs have repeatedly targeted northwestern Russia in recent months, including energy infrastructure in Leningrad Region near St. Petersburg. Some drones veered off course and crashed in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland.
Moscow has warned the Baltic states against allowing Ukraine to use their airspace for strikes, saying it could trigger retaliation.
Kulbergs announced the project on Saturday during a visit to the Luznava military base in Latvia’s eastern Latgale region. According to LSM, the initiative is intended to promote cooperation between Latvia and Ukraine in the defense industry.
“Latvia will do everything possible to ensure that its joint drone production plant with Ukraine is built as soon as possible and located in the border region,” Kulbergs told reporters after the meeting, according to Delfi.
Kulbergs said Latvia plans to deploy interceptor drones along its borders with Russia and Belarus within the next two months.
“If there is a drone threat, we will not have to scramble aircraft every time. It is a very expensive and effective solution, but it is neither the best nor the most efficient one,” he said.
Earlier this month, Kulbergs revealed that Latvia made a “secret” decision related to Ukrainian drones entering the country’s airspace but declined to disclose any details.
In May, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said Ukraine was preparing to launch drones against Russia from the Baltic states to shorten flight times, claiming that Latvia allowed Ukraine to use its territory for the operations.
Russia has warned that Western countries have become de facto parties to the conflict by supplying weapons to Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has said, however, that Russia will not attack a NATO member unless it is attacked first.
