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Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds has stated that his country seeks to play a leading role in advancing drone capabilities within the European Union.
The minister’s remarks were published by the Latvian Ministry of Defence press service.
During talks in Riga with European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, Spruds said that Latvia is ready to take a leading position in developing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities within the EU.
“To achieve this goal, we have established a Competence Centre for Autonomous Systems and provided a testing ground for our allies. Latvia has a very active drone and counter-drone industry, and its defence sector plays an important role in strengthening regional security and creating technological independence,” he emphasized.
Kubilius, in turn, said he clearly understands the threats faced by countries on the eastern flank, including Latvia.
“That’s why it’s crucial to rapidly develop and strengthen our collective defence, starting with reinforcing NATO’s and the EU’s external borders,” he said.
He noted that “enhancing security on the eastern flank requires pooling national resources and adopting a deeply integrated regional approach.”
“Such coordinated actions with NATO are viewed as the only effective way to ensure real collective defence and deterrence for the entire European Union,” the commissioner added.
As reported, during the European Council meeting on October 23–24 in Brussels, EU leaders will discuss a draft “roadmap” for implementing the bloc’s defence strategy, which includes building a “drone wall.”
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa welcomed the EU’s plan to create a “drone wall” along the bloc’s eastern border but described the idea as “still very raw.”
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