Latvia and relevant Ukrainian business and defense associations are deepening their cooperation in the defense industry sector. This was announced during the Latvian-Ukrainian Defense Forum 2026, which took place on March 23 in Kyiv at the premises of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The event culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Latvian Ministry of Defense and a number of Ukrainian organizations, which provides for long-term cooperation, technology exchange, and state support for Ukrainian companies planning to enter or expand their operations in the Latvian market.

The forum was attended by government officials, diplomats, business representatives, and industry associations from both countries. The event was opened by Gennadiy Chizhikov, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Andris Spruds, Minister of Defense of Latvia; Serhiy Boev, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine; and Andrejs Pildegovičs, Ambassador of Latvia to Ukraine. As the organizers noted, the forum was aimed not only at providing political confirmation of support for Ukraine but also at establishing practical mechanisms for cooperation between manufacturers, investors, and government institutions of the two countries.

On the Ukrainian side, the Ukrainian Council of Arms Manufacturers, the National Association of Defense Industries of Ukraine, the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, and “Technological Forces of Ukraine” joined the agreements. According to the Latvian side, the document is intended to serve as a tool for building a joint defense industry ecosystem that will combine the combat experience of Ukrainian manufacturers with Latvia’s technological and institutional potential. The Latvian Ministry of Defense emphasized that the memorandum provides for targeted state support for Ukrainian companies planning to launch or expand their operations in Latvia.

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“The combat experience of the Ukrainian defense industry and Latvia’s technological potential are a powerful combination for joint development. The memorandum is not merely declarative but practical in nature and is intended to serve as a platform for creating innovative solutions that will strengthen the security of both countries and the capabilities of their armed forces,” noted Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds.

The Latvian Ministry of Defense also emphasized that the country aims to become a stable base for Ukrainian companies in Europe, while simultaneously developing its own industrial potential.

Gennadiy Chizhikov, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for his part, emphasized that deepening cooperation in the defense sector “strengthens our countries and industries.”

“The implementation of the agreements will take place with the participation of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, as well as the Latvian Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Defense. This involves, in particular, promoting Ukrainian business in the Latvian market and supporting the development of a broader defense industry ecosystem,” he added.

The practical part of the forum included a bilateral business session and a panel discussion featuring Oleksandr Kamyshin, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Strategic Issues; Vadym Yunyk, co-founder of Baltic Forces Hub; Ihor Fedirko, CEO of the Ukrainian Defense Industry Council; representatives of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, Latvian business organizations, LIAA, DAIF Latvia, the Latvian Embassy in Ukraine, and private companies in the defense and technology sectors. This composition of participants indicates that the parties are striving to translate political support into concrete production, investment, and cooperation decisions.

Further confirmation of the practical nature of the visit came from the fact that the Latvian Investment and Development Agency had announced as early as the beginning of March a trade mission of Latvian defense and security companies to Kyiv for March 23–25, coinciding with the working visit of the Latvian Minister of Defense. The program included direct contacts with representatives of the Ukrainian defense sector and B2B meetings with potential partners. The forum in Kyiv thus became part of a broader effort to institutionalize Latvian-Ukrainian cooperation in the defense industry against the backdrop of the war and the growing role of this sector in the economies of European countries.

The event was organized by the Latvian Ministry of Defense, the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, and the Latvian Embassy in Ukraine, while the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry served as a co-organizer, and the Ukraine Facility Platform acted as a partner for the forum. Given the content of the signed agreements, this is no longer merely a matter of Latvia’s political solidarity with Ukraine, but an attempt to establish a sustainable bilateral cooperation mechanism.

Interfax-Ukraine is the forum’s media partner.