Riga calls for immediate downing of drones violating airspace

Foreign unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that enter Latvian airspace without authorization should be shot down, the country’s defence minister has said.

Latvian Defence Minister Raivis Melnis made the remarks, stressing that violations of national airspace cannot be left unchallenged, Delfi reports.

He said Latvian authorities operate on the principle that foreign drones must not be allowed to enter the country’s airspace freely, underlining that the protection of the population and national security remains the state’s top priority.

The defence minister also noted that the use of expensive missiles to intercept every drone is not always a cost-effective solution. He added that Latvia is working on developing more affordable and efficient systems to counter unmanned aerial threats.

Separately, on June 8, French Air Force fighter jets participating in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission reportedly shot down a drone over Latvian airspace, highlighting ongoing regional concerns over aerial security and the growing use of unmanned systems.

By Vafa Guliyeva