- NATO Baltic Air Policing jets shot down a "foreign drone" in Latvian airspace on Friday, according to the country's military.
- Latvia's military deployed additional air defence units to its eastern borders and will continue to monitor its airspace, warning that further drone incursions are possible as long as Russia's aggression in Ukraine continues.
- The latest interception follows mounting drone incursions into NATO airspace along the alliance's eastern flank, which remains particularly vulnerable to security challenges arising from Russia's war in Ukraine.
- NATO allies gathered on Wednesday to discuss the recent drone incursions, expressing full solidarity with affected allies and reiterating that Russia bears full responsibility for the airspace violations.
- In July, Romanian fighter jets shot down three drones over three days amid a surge in drone-related incidents, with at least one identified as a Shahed-type drone used by Russian forces.
- Romanian military divers destroyed two Gerbera-type drones in the Black Sea near the Neptun Deep gas project to ensure the safety of the shipping lane.
NATO Baltic Air Policing jets shot down a foreign drone over Latvia on Friday, marking a significant escalation in airspace security concerns linked to Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine. The Latvian military reported that the drone entered its airspace due to Russian electromagnetic warfare and was intercepted over the Balvi region.1
In response to this incident, the military has deployed additional air defense units to Latvia's eastern borders, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance. The statement from the armed forces warned, "As long as Russia's aggression in Ukraine continues, a recurrence of cases where foreign drones enter or approach Latvian airspace is possible."23
This incident is part of a broader trend of increasing drone incursions into NATO airspace, particularly along the alliance's eastern flank, which remains vulnerable due to the ongoing conflict. The latest interception follows a series of drone-related incidents, including three drones shot down by Romanian fighter jets in July, which were linked to Russian military operations.78
NATO allies convened recently to address these security challenges, reiterating their "full solidarity with and support for the affected Allies". The alliance stated that "Russia bears full responsibility for the airspace violations, which are dangerous and unacceptable", and affirmed its readiness to deter any aggression.56
“The military warned that further drone incursions are possible as long as Russia's aggression in Ukraine continues. NATO allies expressed full solidarity with affected allies, reiterating that Russia bears full responsibility for the airspace violations, which are dangerous and unacceptable.”
euronews.com
