Taiwan and Estonia Forge Strategic Alliance: MOUs Signed for Aerospace and Defense Collaboration

Boosting Regional Stability and Innovation: A Deep Dive into Taiwan-Estonia Partnership

Vilnius, May 8 - A significant step forward in international collaboration has been taken as a Taiwanese business delegation inked two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with Estonia, paving the way for enhanced cooperation between the aerospace and defense sectors. The Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia confirmed the development.

The agreements were finalized on Monday in Tallinn, Estonia's capital, between the Taiwanese delegation and the Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industry Association, along with the Estonia Aviation Cluster. According to the Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia, the MOUs signify a new era of partnership, particularly focusing on drones, aerospace technology, and related industries.

Hu Kai-hung (胡開宏), the leader of the Taiwanese delegation and head of the Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance (TEDIBOA), emphasized the importance of the collaboration, noting that the initiative stemmed from discussions held last November with Estonian defense industry representatives. During that time, Hu was leading a delegation to Latvia, exploring business opportunities between Taiwan, Latvia, and Estonia.

This initial exchange led to a follow-up in February 2025, when Estonian lawmaker Kristo Enn Vaga, chairman of the Estonia-Taiwan Support Group in the Estonian Parliament, led a delegation to Taiwan to further strengthen the burgeoning partnership, the statement said.

Andrew H.C. Lee (李憲章), Taiwan's representative to Estonia, hailed the MOUs as a crucial step forward. He highlighted the shared values and economic synergies between the two nations, noting that both Taiwan and Estonia possess well-regulated economies with access to crucial markets in the Indo-Pacific and the European Union.

Lee further stated that the complementary nature of their economic and industrial structures presents significant opportunities for mutual growth. In the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and China's increasing military pressures on Taiwan, the MOUs also represent a chance to foster new industrial chains, thus promoting regional stability and bolstering global security, Lee added.

Kalev Koidumäe, CEO of the Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industry Association, who was part of the Estonian delegation that visited Taiwan in February, expressed his anticipation for the swift implementation of the collaboration plans between the two nations.

Andy Viikmaa, a director at the Estonia Aviation Cluster, highlighted the shared historical experiences and ideals of Taiwan and Estonia. He stressed the importance of extending collaboration to construct a "non-red supply chain" founded on democratic principles, as both nations are characterized by vibrant and innovative economies.