Estonian officials have travelled to Saudi Arabia to begin what they describe as “first steps” toward a possible defence procurement partnership, signalling exploratory talks between the Baltic state and the Kingdom on future military and security collaboration.

According to officials familiar with the discussions, the visit is focused on assessing areas of mutual interest in defence technology, procurement processes and industrial cooperation.

The talks are at an early stage and are intended to establish whether formal agreements could be developed in the future.

Estonia has built a reputation for advanced digital capabilities and cyber defence expertise, positioning itself as a specialised contributor within NATO’s collective security framework.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has expanded its defence industry ambitions under its Vision 2030 strategy, seeking to localise military production and diversify suppliers while strengthening domestic capabilities.

The exploratory engagement reflects broader trends in international defence cooperation, where mid-sized technology-driven states are increasingly sought out for niche expertise.

Discussions are understood to include potential knowledge exchange in cybersecurity, unmanned systems and secure communications, although no procurement contracts have been announced.

Officials emphasised that the dialogue remains preliminary and subject to further evaluation.

Any eventual cooperation would depend on regulatory approvals, strategic alignment and commercial feasibility.

For now, both sides appear focused on building channels of communication that could, if developed further, expand into structured defence collaboration in the coming years.