Latvia and Netherlands Sign Drone Cooperation Deal to Expand NATO Training and Testing

Latvia and the Netherlands have officially entered into a new defense agreement aimed at expanding their joint capabilities in drone technology.

The memorandum of intent, signed by Latvian Prime Minister and acting Minister of Defense Evika Siliņa and Dutch Minister of Defense Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, grants the Dutch armed forces access to the Sēlija military training range in Latvia, according to Delfi on May 27.

This partnership is designed to facilitate specialized training exercises and the testing of advanced drone systems in a live operational environment.

During the signing ceremony, Siliņa emphasized that the agreement underscores a shared political commitment to strengthening regional defense and increasing the scale of international military presence within Latvia.

She also extended her gratitude to the United Kingdom for its ongoing support of the drone coalition and acknowledged representatives from Ukraine for their essential role in sharing real-time combat experience.

Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius highlighted that collaborating with Ukraine on production is a vital strategy for scaling up the output of unmanned systems. She noted that Ukraine currently possesses the capability to produce hundreds and thousands of drones, making them an essential partner in modernizing defense supply chains.

Read more

Category

World

North Korea Tests “AI-Guided” Cruise Missiles With Alleged 100-KM Range

May 27, 2026 12:37

The Dutch minister pointed out that the current security climate requires faster results, noting that "cheaper and faster" are the essential elements driving these new innovations. Her remarks reflect a broader push among NATO members to accelerate defense production cycles to better align with current regional security requirements.

This development follows other recent shifts in the European defense sector, including the initiation of mass production for naval drones and loitering munitions by the German defense firm Rheinmetall.

Earlier, Ukrainian defense-tech company General Chereshnya unveiled the “Khmarynka” fixed-wing strike drone, designed as a low-cost, mass-produced system for targeting Russian logistics. The drone can carry a 7 kg payload, operate at ranges up to 50 km, and remain airborne for up to 60 minutes.

Truth is Under Attack

We report the war as it unfolds directly from the people and places most affected by it. Your support helps us bring these stories to the world.

SUPPORT