NATO fighter jets were activated on Thursday (21 May) after at least one drone entered Latvian airspace, according to Latvia’s armed forces, marking the latest in a series of security incidents across the Baltic region linked to the war in Ukraine.
Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya warned on Tuesday (19 May) that Moscow could retaliate against Baltic states if Ukraine launches military drones from that region. Latvia, the United States and Ukraine responded strongly during a UN Security Council meeting.
Lithuania on Wednesday issued an “air danger” warning urging residents to seek shelter and temporarily suspended operations at the capital’s airport amid fears that drones had entered the country’s airspace, as tensions between Russia and the Baltic states continue to escalate.
Latvia’s centre-right Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has resigned after sacking her Defence Minister over the army’s failure to shoot down stray Ukrainian drones. Two Ukrainian drones aimed at Russia accidentally crashed in Latvia last Thursday (7 May), with one exploding at an oil storage unit.
Latvian authorities said two drones entered NATO member Latvia from Russian territory and crashed on Thursday morning, with officials linking them to Ukraine’s wider drone operations against targets in Russia.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs’ visit to Azerbaijan on 22 April highlighted expanding cooperation in energy, trade and transport, as Europe faces supply chain pressures and the South Caucasus gains renewed geopolitical importance.
Northern European countries must significantly boost military drone production to help Ukraine defeat Russia, Latvia’s Prime Minister has said, warning that victory would be “impossible” without greater support.
Latvia has completed construction of its border fence with Russia, marking a major step in strengthening national and EU external border security. Authorities say work will now focus on expanding surveillance technology and additional infrastructure along the eastern border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze in Kyiv on Thursday (27 November).
Latvia’s Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova triumphed in women’s beach volleyball on Sunday evening in Adelaide, Australia. They secured the gold medal with a hard-fought three-set victory over the USA’s Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship.
Following the announcement of the extension of the Canada-led NATO mission in Latvia, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa said that cooperation within the Alliance had been elevated to a new level.
Orkhan Nazarli, Head of Azerbaijan’s State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy, held separate meetings with senior tax officials from Latvia and Montenegro during the 29th General Assembly of the Intra-European Organization of Tax Administrations (IOTA) in Baku.
The Council of European Union has appointed Mr Eduards Stiprais as new EU Special Representative for Central Asia. He will take up his duties on 1 March 2025 with an initial mandate of 2 years, succeeding Terhi Hakala.
"This is a victory for freedom and European unity", says EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs met at the World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss bilateral ties. Rinkēvičs offered condolences for the recent plane crash, while Aliyev stressed the importance of continued cooperation.
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