The Defense Minister of Latvia, Andris Spruds, has resigned after two Ukrainian drones, which reportedly originated from Russia, struck oil storage facilities on May 8. This incident prompted immediate calls for accountability within the country’s defense leadership.
Prime Minister Evika Silina publicly demanded Spruds’ resignation, citing the inadequate deployment of drone countermeasures as a significant failure. She emphasized that the recent drone attack highlighted a breach of trust, given that the defense sector was allocated unprecedented funding, nearly 5% of the nation’s GDP.
In her statement, Silina remarked, “The drone incident this week clearly demonstrated that the political leadership of the defense sector did not fulfill its promise to ensure a secure airspace over our country. This is a tremendous responsibility that requires clear results.”
Following the resignation, Colonel Raivis Melnis of the Latvian Army has been appointed as the new Minister of Defense, tasked with addressing the challenges highlighted by this recent event.
The resignation of Latvia's Defense Minister follows a drone attack that raised serious concerns about the country's airspace security. Prime Minister Silina's demand for accountability reflects growing public scrutiny over defense spending and effectiveness.