NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had a conversation with Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, during which they discussed the security of Latvia’s airspace and the entire Baltic region in light of increasing threats. The meeting took place against the backdrop of another air alert in Latvia, which has been ongoing for the third consecutive day.
This is reported by Finway
Growing Drone Threat in the Baltics
Latvian security forces reported a potential air danger due to drone flights in the Ludza, Kraslava, and Rezekne regions. At least one drone crossed the country’s air border, leading to the suspension of train services in eastern Latvia, near the border with Belarus and Russia.
A similar situation was observed in Lithuania, where the armed forces and President Gitanas Nausėda reported the detection of two drones in the country’s airspace. Around 16:30 local time, a “red” alert level was declared in the Utena district, and residents were urged to seek shelter immediately. NATO fighter jets were deployed to destroy the drones, after which the alert was lifted.
Response from the Baltic States and NATO
The leaders of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia – Gitanas Nausėda, Edgars Rinkēvičs, and Alar Karis – held a joint conversation, during which they discussed the threats posed by unmanned aerial vehicles and emphasized the need to strengthen the defense capabilities of NATO’s eastern flank. They also condemned statements from Russian authorities accusing the Baltic states of providing their airspace for attacks on Russian territory. The press service of the Latvian president highlighted the importance of further urgent steps to protect airspace and expand allies’ participation in strengthening the eastern border.
“The leaders of the Baltic states highly appreciated the contribution of NATO allies to strengthening the security of the Baltic states through patrolling the Baltic airspace, as well as ensuring the presence of allied troops in the Baltic states, particularly in NATO operations ‘Baltic Guardian’ and ‘Eastern Guardian,'” the statement said.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs emphasized the importance of continuing to invest in NATO’s defense potential, especially in air defense, and urged the alliance to review its capability goals for more effective responses to modern challenges.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated that Russian military forces are deliberately redirecting Ukrainian drones towards the Baltic states using electronic warfare means. In Moscow, there were accusations against Latvia and Estonia for allegedly allowing Ukrainian drones to fly over their territory to attack Russia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that the presence of drones in the Baltics is a consequence of “reckless, illegal full-scale aggression by Russia that began in 2022,” rather than actions by Ukraine.