French jet on NATO mission shoots down drone in Latvian airspace
PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative file photo — A demonstration of the French multirole fighter aircraft Dassault Rafale during the International Paris Air Show at the Paris-Le Bourget Airport, France June 19, 2023. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS)
By Andrius Sytas and Janis Laizans (Reuters)
BERZGALE, Latvia, June 8 - A French military Rafale fighter jet shot down a drone that entered NATO member Latvia's airspace from Russia on Monday, the latest in a series of such security incidents along Europe's eastern border regions.
The Latvian army, without saying who launched the drone, said it entered from Russia "as a result of Russian electromagnetic warfare".
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, in a post on X, hailed "swift decision-making and professional action" over the incident.
A French army spokesperson confirmed French warplanes had shot down an unidentified drone, and a NATO official said: "It shows once again NATO’s determination and ability to deter and defend."
The final decision to shoot down the drone was taken by NATO command, Latvian defence minister Raivis Melnis told reporters.
Latvia said Russia had been identified as using electronic warfare before the drone entered the country and was shot down at 0705 GMT near the village of Berzgale about 30 km (18 miles) from the border.
No one was hurt and no property was damaged, Melnis said.
Authorities had earlier warned people in eastern Latvian regions to shelter indoors because of the threat.
Numerous military vehicles were seen driving along the rural roads around Berzekne and surrounding villages on Monday afternoon looking for drone debris in high grass.
SPILLOVER CONCERNS
Military drones straying into the airspace of Russia's neighbours have stoked concerns that Russia's war in Ukraine is spilling over NATO's borders.
Fragments of a Ukrainian drone were found in a field in Moldova on Monday after it entered from Ukraine - an incident that Chisinau blamed on Russia because of its war with Ukraine.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the incidents in Latvia and Moldova "confirm that Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine poses a threat beyond Ukraine's borders."
An army official told Reuters in May that Latvia was increasing anti-drone defences.
Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone attacks on Russia, including in the Baltic Sea area, where several Ukrainian military drones have strayed into the airspace of Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Ukraine blamed the incidents on Russia affecting the drone paths with electromagnetic warfare.
The French military jet that shot down the drone on Monday is part of the NATO Baltic Air Police mission, which has patrolled the skies of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia since they joined NATO in 2004.
The mission also currently includes Romanian F-16 fighters and Portuguese F-16 fighters. Last month a Romanian military jet on the Baltic Air Police mission shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonia.
(Additional reporting by John Irish and Andrew Gray, Editing by Anna Ringstrom, Terje Solsvik and Timothy Heritage // REUTERS)
