NATO fighter jets scrambled from Lithuania after drone reports in Latvia

Lithuania has not recorded any violations of its airspace despite recent drone-related incidents in neighbouring Baltic and Nordic countries, Lithuanian National Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said.

According to LRT, the minister said authorities continue to closely monitor the situation following reports of drones entering the airspace of neighbouring Latvia.

“As far as I know, no such incidents or violations of airspace have been recorded in Lithuania. Every morning I ask about this, and I am assured that there have been no such incidents in Lithuania,” Kaunas said.

The minister stated that NATO air policing forces were activated on Thursday, May 7, after reports emerged about drones in Latvian airspace.

According to Kaunas, fighter jets conducting patrol missions took off from the NATO air policing base in Šiauliai before returning to the airfield at around 6 a.m.

He also linked recent drone incidents in Latvia, Estonia and Finland to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“These are consequences of the war against Ukraine provoked by Russia,” the minister said.

By Tamilla Hasanova