(Right) Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg's Minister of Defence, in London, UK;
Credit: MAE
On Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 September 2025, Luxembourg’s Minister of Defence, Yuriko Backes, attended the international Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI UK) exhibition in London.
According to Luxembourg’s Directorate of Defence, the event this year brought together more than 1,600 exhibitors. The visit included a stop by Minister Backes at the Luxembourg pavilion, which featured twelve Luxembourg companies active in the defence sector.
The minister commented: “The first participation of Luxembourg at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) in London, with our own pavilion, illustrates our determination to further boost the defence sector and shows that these efforts are already bearing fruit: the ecosystem the defence industry of the Grand Duchy is developing concretely, with established companies and new Luxembourgish players who are already today developing innovative and internationally recognised solutions.”
Alongside the conference, Minister Backes held a bilateral meeting with the UK Minister of State for Defence, Lord Vernon Coaker. The discussions focused on military support for Ukraine, strengthening the European pillar of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and bilateral cooperation in defence matters. Minister Backes underlined: “The excellent cooperation between our two countries will need to expand further in the field of defence. Collaboration among European Allies is essential for the credibility of our Alliance.”
The Minister of Defence also took part, via videoconference, in the 30th organised meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group which brought together representatives of 56 partner countries of Ukraine under the chairmanship of German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defence Secretary John Healey.
During her speech, Minister Backes noted: "Our support for Ukraine will continue as long as necessary. We must provide Ukraine with the means to defend itself and ensure its security, which will be an essential condition for any peace agreement."
EO
