Prime Minister Evika Siliņa of New Unity (JV) has demanded the resignation of Defence Minister Andris Sprūds of The Progressives (P) and announced that she has invited Colonel Raivis Melnis to take over the post.
According to the prime minister, the defence minister lost her confidence following the drone incidents in the Latgale region.
Siliņa published the announcement on the social media platform X shortly before Sprūds’ unexpectedly convened press conference on Monday evening, during which he announced his resignation, taking political responsibility and stating that he wanted to protect the National Armed Forces of Latvia (NBS) from being drawn into a political campaign.
The prime minister wrote that the defence sector must now be led by a professional and said she had invited Colonel Melnis to become defence minister, an invitation he accepted.
“His previous experience in the NBS, military education in London, and current work in Ukraine give confidence that national defence will be managed competently, purposefully, and outside pre-election rhetoric,” Siliņa wrote.
She stated that she had informed the minister and coalition partners of her decision earlier in the day.
The prime minister explained that the decision was made not only in response to the recent drone incidents but also after assessing the broader situation within the defence sector. She emphasized that Latvia’s defence currently receives historically the largest funding allocation — 5% of gross domestic product — which also entails significantly greater responsibility toward society.
Siliņa stressed that these funds have been reallocated from other sectors, meaning residents have the right to expect concrete results — security, clarity, and confidence in the state’s ability to act quickly and professionally.
At the same time, she criticized the insufficiently rapid adoption of Ukraine’s practical experience in developing anti-drone systems following previous incidents, despite Ukraine’s willingness to share expertise. According to Siliņa, only now, with more active involvement from herself and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, are concrete steps being planned in this field.
The prime minister emphasized that the defence sector requires not only funding but also clear leadership, effective cooperation, and the ability to make timely decisions. In her view, the Ministry of Defence of Latvia has recently experienced problems with internal cooperation, continuity, and leadership stability.
Within a relatively short period, two ministry state secretaries have left their posts, which, according to Siliņa, points to systemic problems in the ministry’s operations at a time when security challenges demand coordinated and professional action.
Siliņa also stressed the need to ensure unified cooperation between the Defence Ministry, the NBS, and other security services, adding that she currently lacks confidence in the political leadership’s ability to guarantee such cooperation at a sufficient level.
The prime minister also criticized the defence industry’s involvement in capability development, saying progress had been too slow. She emphasized the need to purposefully develop defence capabilities essential for Latvia instead of relying for too long on purchasing available solutions.
Siliņa further stated that defence and security issues must remain outside pre-election rhetoric and party interests. Given the complex geopolitical situation, the leadership of the defence sector requires a professional and competent approach that enjoys the trust of both society and the sector itself.
She stressed that security issues must stand above political ambitions and party interests, highlighting the importance of professionalism in ensuring national security.
Speaking about Melnis, the prime minister said Latvia currently needs a defence leader with military experience, an international perspective, and practical understanding of modern defence challenges in order to restore trust in the sector, strengthen cooperation with the NBS, and achieve concrete results in national security.
Siliņa emphasized that the government’s constant priority remains ensuring a strong, secure, and protected Latvia.
It had previously been reported that a meeting between Siliņa and Sprūds had been scheduled for Monday, May 11.
The prime minister had earlier criticized the minister’s handling of the situation and stressed that the substantial defence budget — approximately €2 billion — implies greater responsibility toward society.
Following the drone incident in Rēzekne, opposition parties Latvia First (LPV), National Alliance (NA), and United List demanded Sprūds’ resignation.
After criticism from society and politicians, Sprūds ordered an internal investigation into the response to Thursday morning’s drone incidents in Latgale.
The minister also instructed the NBS to immediately revise the existing airspace defence plan for the border region, increase Air Force operational readiness, and ensure the deployment of Latvian-made interceptor drones along the border within the coming weeks.
NBS commander Kaspars Pudāns stated that after the drone incidents in Latgale, the armed forces would evaluate whether the current air defence model along Latvia’s eastern border is sufficiently effective.
Pudāns acknowledged that the defence approach may need revision, while emphasizing that no solution would be perfect. The NBS cannot fully replace technical equipment in a short time, but continues strengthening capabilities, including supplementing battle groups with interceptor drones. These are expected to arrive by the end of May, while troop training is continuing simultaneously.
As previously reported by the LETA news agency, several unmanned aerial vehicles entered Latvian airspace from Russia early Thursday morning. Two of them crashed in Rēzekne, damaging a fuel storage facility.