Drone coalition: Latvia’s ambitions to boost security and international image

The international initiative to provide Ukraine with unmanned aerial systems, known as the Drone Coalition, was established on 14 February 2024 at the initiative of Latvia and currently comprises 18 countries. Its aim is to provide Ukraine with drones and assistance in training personnel in the use of new technologies. From Latvia’s point of view, the coalition is also an opportunity to strengthen its own defence capabilities, develop domestic businesses based on scientific research, and shape the international image of an innovative state. The International Drone Summit, to be held in Riga on 28 May 2025, will be an opportunity to strengthen this leadership role.

Origins and role of the Drone Coalition. Modern technologies, including unmanned aerial systems, have fundamentally changed the tactics of warfare. Currently, drones are an important element of Ukraine’s military capabilities, both in reconnaissance and strike missions. As a result, a year ago, on Latvia’s initiative, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark and Germany signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Drone Coalition, committing to invest in drone production, supply Ukraine with equipment and its spare parts, conduct drone tests, train soldiers and introduce other technical solutions. The coalition currently consists of Ukraine, Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Estonia, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany and Sweden, as well as Latvia and the United Kingdom, which lead the Drone Coalition. On 19 February 2025, Norway joined the group, agreeing to provide nearly €50 million for the development of drone technologies.

The task of the Drone Coalition is to ensure the continuity of transfers of combat drones of various parameters designed in accordance with the requirements of the Ukrainian armed forces, to develop the production of drone systems and to promote secure supply chains for the components of these devices in Western countries.

The total support of all member states of the Drone Coalition for Ukraine in 2024 amounted to €1.8 billion. Latvia provided €20 million at that time and plans to provide the same amount in 2025. Since July 2024, an international fund has also been operating within the coalition, an institution established to purchase drones for Ukraine, with an amount of over €80 million (Latvia allocated €5 million for this purpose). Under contracts signed in January 2025, worth €54 million, the coalition will supply 30,000 drones to Ukraine. Two Latvian companies are also involved in their production, with 12,000 drones worth €17 million to be delivered in the coming months.

The importance of the drone coalition for Latvia. Latvia is considered one of the most innovative countries in Central Europe. Thanks to advanced technologies, it has made significant progress in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles, thus gaining a special position in the Drone Coalition. Moreover, this initiative not only strengthened the country’s defence potential, but also opened up new opportunities for local entrepreneurs, the research sector and the defence industry. Participation in the coalition gave Latvia access to knowledge and experience gained during the war in Ukraine, financial resources for technology development, and the opportunity to test and develop cutting-edge drone solutions within the framework of international public procurement. Thanks to them, Latvia can design new equipment and develop its own combat capabilities. In turn, Latvian companies have the opportunity to participate in international tenders and promote their own brands on the global market. For example, last year Latvia organised a hackathon “Drones for Ukraine” and launched the Latvian Drone Capabilities Development Initiative to strengthen the drone potential of the Latvian Armed Forces. In June 2024, a testing ground was also created at the Sēlia military training area, where both domestic and foreign drone manufacturers have the opportunity to conduct tests in the field of technology development using unmanned aerial vehicles. In October 2024, the Latvian company Origin, which specialises in advanced autonomous systems, received €4 million from the European Defence Fund for drone innovation.

Drone diplomacy. The opportunity to confirm Latvia’s leadership in this initiative will be the International Drone Summit in Riga, scheduled for 28 May 2025, with the participation of the Latvian Ministry of Defence and Riga University of Technology. The summit will bring together representatives of the Drone Coalition member states, military experts, scientists, entrepreneurs and leaders of the unmanned aerial vehicle industry to discuss the Coalition’s achievements to date. The Summit also aims to create opportunities for Latvian companies and researchers to establish contacts with foreign partners and to promote the optimal use of research potential in the defence industry. The event will thus provide an additional platform for discussion and indication of future directions of activities, with special emphasis on challenges related to global security and new dimensions of warfare.

Conclusions and forecasts: Latvia’s political efforts to provide technological support to Ukraine have given impetus to the development of the European and Latvian drone industry. This format also promotes an active exchange of information on research and innovation in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles, creating an opportunity for the countries to organise joint projects in the future.

The Drone Coalition strengthens Latvia’s security, as the development of robotics and artificial intelligence can provide – especially for small countries – optimal defence capabilities against asymmetric threats (see “IEŚ Commentaries”, no. 1246). It is also important from the point of view of the development of the drone industry in Latvia, security of supply and strengthening of the national economy.

Latvia is strengthening its role in the drone coalition by continuing its support for Ukraine (last year it delivered almost 5,000 drones to Ukraine), promoting the country’s defence industry, business cooperation and innovation. It also plans to set up a centre of excellence to develop unmanned aerial vehicle technology and find cutting-edge solutions to the threat posed by drones to critical infrastructure. Latvia’s ambition is to develop and promote domestic drone technologies globally and to shape the image of an innovative country.