A member country of NATO has dispatched fighter jets for the third consecutive day following an intrusion by a drone into alliance airspace. Military jets in Lithuania and armed forces in neighboring Latvia responded to drone incursions. The Lithuanian military conducted a search for two drones, while Latvian officials reported a separate incident of a drone violating their airspace. The origin of the drones remains unknown, as both countries experienced multiple alerts over three days.
Residents in affected areas were advised to adhere to safety protocols to minimize exposure to potential threats. The armed forces announced the reinforcement of air defense capabilities along the eastern border by deploying additional units. Latvia, situated on NATO’s eastern frontier, shares borders with Russia and Belarus, placing it in close proximity to the conflict in Ukraine.
Recent months have seen increased drone activities from Ukraine, targeting Russia, and unintentionally crossing into the airspace of NATO members like Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Ukraine attributed these incursions to Russian jamming of guidance signals. Despite accusations of using NATO airspace for attacks, Kyiv, NATO, and Baltic states vehemently deny these claims.
The Latvian armed forces warned of potential future airspace violations due to ongoing aggression in Ukraine. A confirmed drone breach from Belarus into Latvia was reported by a military spokesperson. The government faced criticism over its handling of previous drone incidents, leading to a recent resignation and discussions for a new cabinet.
Furthermore, a Romanian F-16 jet, part of NATO air policing forces in the Baltics, engaged with a suspected Ukrainian drone in southern Estonia. The situation is evolving, and further updates are expected.