Second Drone Summit held in Riga: focus on defence innovation and support for Ukraine
On Wednesday, May 27, the second international drone summit, “Drone Summit 2026,” took place at the ATTA Centre in Riga. During the summit, nearly 2000 participants — political leaders, experts, scientists, and representatives of the defence industry from 20 Drone Coalition and allied countries — came together on a unified platform for discussions and future decision-making. The event focused primarily on military defence, Europe’s preparedness for military challenges, the development of drone capabilities, and continued support for Ukraine.
During the summit, a letter of intent was also signed between Latvia and the Netherlands, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to deepening cooperation in the field of defence. Latvia and the Netherlands have successfully cooperated since 2008, including within the Drone Coalition, and currently serve as co-leaders in the EU Priority Capability Area for Drones & Counter-Drone Systems. The new agreement provides for the regular use of the “Sēlija” military training area infrastructure by the Netherlands Armed Forces for drone and counter-drone exercises, training, and testing. This will increase the allied military presence in Latvia, strengthen the training area as an internationally recognized testing environment, and attract foreign investment for infrastructure development.
The Drone Summit also featured a business EXPO exhibition, where 116 companies from 20 countries showcased their latest and most advanced unmanned aerial vehicle technologies and innovations. Participating countries included Ukraine, Poland, Turkey, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, Lithuania, Norway, Estonia, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States, Italy, Israel, Luxembourg, Belgium, France, and the Czech Republic. Latvia was represented by 30 technology manufacturers.
A significant role was also dedicated to youth engagement, with 80 members of the Latvian Youth Guard participating in the event. They had the opportunity to take part in an unmanned aircraft assembly workshop and test their skills in drone piloting — from simulator exercises to the actual takeoff and landing of aircraft.
Through the scale of this forum, Latvia demonstrates its ambition to become a major regional hub for cooperation, testing, and innovation in autonomous systems. Compared to last year, this year’s summit program was significantly expanded, becoming part of a broader set of NATO and European-level events. The day before the summit, NATO Innovation Range organized drone and countermeasure system tests at the “Sēlija” military training area, while Riga Technical University hosted an international academic conference on the drone innovation ecosystem.
The Drone Summit is organized by The State Centre for Defence Logistics and Procurement and the Ministry of Defence, in cooperation with Riga Technical University. More information is available at: www.dronesummit.lv.
Information prepared by:
MoD Military Public Affairs Department
Media Relations Section
Phone: 67335129
E-mail: prese@mod.gov.lv
