This was announced by the Minister of Defense of Latvia, Andris Spruds.
Key Highlights:
Total Allocation:
- 20 million euros for the Ukrainian drone coalition.
- 20 million euros to strengthen Latvia's own army with drones.
Funding Usage:
- The funds will be directed towards creating infrastructure and purchasing drones.
- At least 10 million euros will be used to acquire drones from Latvian companies.
Initiative Details:
- The initiative is inspired by the crucial role drones play in modern warfare, as evidenced by Ukraine's experience.
- Latvia's Drone Capability Initiative aims to metaphorically create an "army of drones."
- Seven companies have passed the tests, and negotiations for drone purchases are expected to commence in June.
Minister Spruds emphasized the importance of drones in contemporary conflicts and noted that Latvia's efforts are guided by the lessons learned from Ukraine's use of drones in warfare. The initiative underscores Latvia's commitment to both supporting Ukraine and enhancing its own defense capabilities.
