Riga hosts the first Latvia-Türkiye Drone Industry Partnership Day
To explore cooperation opportunities in the development of autonomous systems and defence technologies, the first Latvia-Türkiye Drone Industry Partnership Day took place in Riga on 20 November 2025. The event was organised by the Autonomous Systems Competence Center in cooperation with the Latvian Military Technology, Drones and Robotics Association (MilTech Latvia).
Opening the event, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Liene Gātere noted that Latvia and Türkiye share a long and constructive history of cooperation in the defence sector, which has further deepened following Türkiye’s accession to the international Drone Coalition. “Latvia’s drone industry offers innovative, high-quality solutions, and we see a wide range of opportunities for cooperation - in technology development, joint projects, and supply chains,” she said.
Chairman of MilTech Latvia Artis Pabriks highlighted the rapid growth of the sector: “In recent years, Latvia’s air, land, and maritime drone industry has developed rapidly, and many of its products have already been tested in real operational conditions. Türkiye, in turn, has a traditionally strong military industry and extensive combat experience, making cooperation between our two NATO countries in military industry and advanced technologies a natural direction for development.”
The event focused on strengthening industry-to-industry cooperation - both in advancing existing technological solutions and in fostering joint innovation and the development of new capabilities. Discussions emphasized that autonomous systems and drone technologies are among the fastest-growing areas of military capability, and that industry involvement is key to ensuring quality, speed, and sustainability.
Latvian and Turkish companies discussed cooperation in manufacturing, research, and practical application, with particular emphasis on developing technologically advanced and interoperable solutions for both NATO and bilateral initiatives. In addition to drone platforms themselves, discussions also covered the integration of components, sensors, software, and counter-drone systems.
Turkish representatives expressed interest in contributing to the development of the Autonomous Systems Competence Center in Latvia, which is set to become an important platform for NATO allies for the exchange of knowledge, technologies, and experience. Such cooperation will enable Latvian companies to accelerate technological development, attract foreign investment, and test solutions together with partners, while allowing Turkish industry to better understand the needs of the Baltic region and participate in joint projects.
Latvia and Türkiye are already cooperating in defence through military education and training projects, and Türkiye’s participation in the international Drone Coalition marks closer integration in the development of shared capabilities. The coalition brings together 20 countries committed to advancing drone capabilities in support of Ukraine and in response to modern threats.
The Autonomous Systems Competence Center, which began operations in September this year, serves as a central platform for strengthening Latvia’s autonomous systems industry - providing technology testing, support to companies, military training, and ensuring the continuity of critical component supplies for the National Armed Forces.
