Latvia has officially kicked off its trade mission to the United States this week with participation in the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C. — one of the world’s premier defense industry events. The mission highlights Latvia’s ambition to become a Baltic hub for defense technology, dual-use innovation, and transatlantic cooperation.
Led by Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis and organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), the delegation includes around 50 Latvian defence, energy, and ICT companies. Their goal: to deepen partnerships with U.S. industry leaders and investors, explore joint R&D opportunities, and expand Latvia’s role in global security technology value chains.
Viktors Valainis, Minister of Economics of Latvia:
“Participating in AUSA is a milestone in strengthening Latvia’s visibility in the international defense and high-tech arena. This is where industry leaders, investors, and policymakers meet to shape the future of defense. Latvian companies like Edge Autonomy, Exonicus, and SAF Tehnika already have strong partnerships in the U.S., and this mission builds on that success. I’m confident that our presence here will result in new partnerships, investments, and projects that reinforce both our economies and collective security.”
Latvia: Europe’s Defense Innovation Laboratory
As highlighted by FDI Intelligence, Latvia is rapidly emerging as one of Europe’s fastest-growing hubs for drone and cybersecurity innovation. The country has become a leader in dual-use technology, combining cutting-edge R&D with a robust test infrastructure.
With a national commitment to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2026, Latvia is investing over €1 billion in military infrastructure, including the expansion of drone and counter-drone capabilities, AI applications, and defense-grade communications systems.
“When the United States sets its sights on something, others often follow. In our case, it was the U.S. that first recognized the potential of Exonicus’ trauma simulator. That initial vote of confidence sparked interest from the Latvian Armed Forces and other partners,” said Sandis Kondrāts, founder of Exonicus. “It’s worth noting that entering the civilian market with such technologies is even more challenging than breaking into the defense sector — which is why securing that first client is absolutely critical. Participating in major defense industry exhibitions is one of the most effective ways to gain visibility and connect with a broader audience.”
Liene Vītola, CEO of Oruga — the company behind the world’s first electric tracked motorcycle — echoed the importance of these exhibitions, where industry leaders and potential investors gather under one roof:
“Under normal circumstances, it would be nearly impossible to arrange meetings with top executives from the world’s leading defense companies. But here, we have the unique opportunity to meet them all in one place. The feedback on our product has been overwhelmingly positive,” Vītola noted.
Drone Coalition Leadership: From Riga to Washington
Latvia is a core member of the International Drone Coalition, providing advanced unmanned systems and R&D capacity to support Ukraine and allied forces. Following the Drone Summit in Riga earlier this year, Latvia has strengthened its position as a European drone powerhouse, hosting NATO-level testing and training at the Selonia Military Range — one of the largest and most advanced drone testing areas in the Baltics.
Ieva Jāgere, Director General, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA):
“The United States is not only Latvia’s strategic security partner but also a key innovation ally. This mission demonstrates that Latvia brings real-world solutions to global defense challenges — from autonomous systems to AI applications and resilient infrastructure. We’re engaging directly with U.S. leaders such as Lockheed Martin, Pansophico, AUVSI Defense, and Cyber Eagle to explore R&D and investment partnerships.”
Next Stop: Spotlight Latvia — Where Business Meets Security
The trade mission continues with Spotlight Latvia 2025, a high-level business and innovation conference taking place on October 16 in McLean, Virginia. The event will gather over 300 participants, including U.S. and Latvian government officials, Fortune 500 executives, and defense investors.
Key speakers include European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, Latvian Finance Minister Arvils Ašeradens, and Minister for Climate and Energy Kaspars Melnis.
Panel discussions will cover defense technology, cybersecurity and AI, drone innovation, and energy resilience — with participation from both U.S. and Latvian thought leaders.
Latvia’s delegation features a strong mix of state enterprises, defense primes, and cutting-edge tech startups, including: State Defense Corporation, Latvenergo, Edge Autonomy Riga, BELSS/Eraser, SAF Tehnika, Defence Partnership Latvia, LMT Defence, Oruga, MN TECH, Data Crunch, SILMOR, and more.
About the Mission
The trade mission is organized by the Ministry of Economics of Latvia and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), in cooperation with the Embassy of Latvia in Washington, D.C. and the Latvian-American Chamber of Commerce (LACC).
Photo: Exibition AUSA 2025
The initiative is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
