The Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have called on NATO to bolster its air defense capabilities, particularly in countering drone threats. This request follows multiple incidents where foreign unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) breached NATO airspace in the region.
In a statement released on March 27 by Latvia’s Ministry of Defense, the ministers emphasized the need for accelerated efforts to strengthen air defense systems, including the detection and interception of drones. They acknowledged the value of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence but indicated that current measures must be expanded.
“The existing deployment of NATO aircraft and air defense systems in the Baltic states should be maintained and enhanced to counter all aerial threats, including drones,” the ministers stated. They pointed to recent drone incursions as a reminder of their ongoing request for EU funding under the European Defense Projects of Common Interest initiative.
The ministers highlighted the necessity for significant and targeted increases in EU defense funding over the long term, particularly to fortify the eastern border through initiatives such as the Eastern Flank Control and the European Drone Defense Initiative. They noted that their countries are already investing at least 5% of their GDP in defense.
On March 23, an explosion occurred in the Varėna district of Lithuania, where an unidentified object reportedly fell into a lake near the village of Laviškiai. Initial assessments suggest that the object may have been a drone, with Lithuanian military officials noting that radar systems did not detect any object crossing into the country’s airspace.
Days later, on March 25, drones entered the airspace of Estonia and Latvia from Russia, with one drone exploding upon entering Latvia. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported. Speculation arose that the drone could have been Ukrainian, coinciding with Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s Leningrad region, which borders Estonia and Latvia.
The Baltic states have urged NATO to enhance air defense systems in response to recent drone incursions. They stress the importance of EU funding to bolster defense capabilities along their eastern borders.