Following the incident of a Russian drone entering Poland, such threats have not been detected in Latvia, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (JV) acknowledged in an interview with Latvian Television’s Morning Panorama.
This morning, after consulting with the Commander of the National Armed Forces (NAF) Kaspars Pudāns, Siliņa confirmed that Latvia currently faces no such threats.
After last year’s incident when a drone crashed in Latvia, much has been done to strengthen security, the Prime Minister stressed. Lessons were learned then, including the need to deploy mobile units along the border and improve detection systems—measures that have since been implemented, Siliņa said, adding that regular information exchange between countries is ongoing.
However, for now “full, full protection” is not yet in place, the Prime Minister admitted, emphasizing that additional air defense capabilities have been ordered to further enhance security.
According to Siliņa,
the units stationed at the border now strengthen response capacity,
while cooperation with airports and other airspace actors is crucial to allow for rapid closure of the airspace if necessary.
She acknowledged that Latvia had received information that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration plans to cut funding, including for Latvia’s defense, but stressed that the final decision rests with the U.S. Congress. “We are in long-standing contact with Congress, and no final decision has been made,” the Prime Minister underlined, emphasizing that Latvia itself is doing everything necessary to strengthen its security.
Currently, Latvia is preparing an application for the SAFE instrument, under which it could receive 5.6 billion euros. As Siliņa explained, this would allow Latvia to acquire the necessary defense capabilities. She expressed confidence in Latvia’s good chances of securing the funding, while acknowledging that it would be a long-term loan, but one that would provide crucial support for responding to various incidents.
As reported, NAF Commander Kaspars Pudāns stressed that Latvia’s eastern border is constantly guarded by air defense units, ready to identify and shoot down hostile drones should they enter Latvian airspace. He assessed that last night’s events in Poland demonstrate that
cooperation protocols with NATO air policing fighters are effective.
Polish armed forces overnight shot down targets that had violated the country’s air border, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced.
“An operation is underway related to multiple violations of Poland’s airspace. The army has used weapons against these objects. I am in constant contact with the president and the defense minister. I received a report directly from the operation commander,” Tusk stated on platform X.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced Wednesday that aircraft mobilized in response to repeated violations of Polish airspace during Russia’s attacks on Ukraine had opened fire on “hostile objects.”
“The aircraft used weapons against hostile objects,” he confirmed on social media, adding: “We are in continuous contact with NATO leadership.”
Ukrainian monitoring channels had earlier reported that several Russian drones had entered Poland through western Ukraine.
Polish armed forces stated that, together with NATO allies, they scrambled aircraft and placed ground-based air defense units on full alert.
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