Latvia’s left-of-centre party, the Progressives, will not leave the country’s three-party coalition government for now, Andris Suvajevs, leader of the party’s parliamentary group, announced, LETA reports. However, he insisted that Prime Minister Evika Silina, head of the ruling New Unity party, was unable to lead the government. The Progressives will invite Silina for talks. Meanwhile,…
Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds has stepped down after Prime Minister Evika Silina demanded that he resign, LSM reports. Silina announced that she had lost trust in the minister due to his mishandling of recent incursions of Ukrainian drones and the broader situation in the defence sector, LETA reported. Silina said that her adviser, Colonel…
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina sharply criticised Defence Minister Andris Spruds after drones from Russia crashed in Latvian territory, LETA reported. Silina pointed to the lack of timely warning to local residents about the incoming drones. The government’s EUR 2bn defence budget means that people will expect accountability from the minister, she stated. Silina said…
Several unmanned aerial vehicles entered Latvian airspace from Russia, and two of them crashed in eastern Latvia, in the early morning hours of 7 May 2026, according to the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS), LETA reported. One of the drones crashed at East-West Transit’s oil storage facility in Rezekne, LETA reported. No significant damage and…
Estonia has recommended that Ukraine redirect its drone attacks against Russia’s Baltic Sea ports farther away from Estonia’s borders, Colonel Ants Kiviselg, commander of the Military Intelligence Centre of the Estonian Defence Forces, said, ERR reports. Lithuania’s Deputy Defence Minister, Tomas Godliauskas, insisted that Ukraine warn the Baltic States if their drones veer off course,…
Several Ukrainian strike drones have crashed in the three Baltic States and Finland as Ukraine is attacking Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure, Baltic News and YLE reported. The drones are targeting oil and gas terminals and other infrastructure at Russia’s ports on the Gulf of Finland and the Kirishi oil refinery. One of the stray…
Lithuania has submitted an application for EUR 6.375bn of support from the European Commission’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument to finance around 50 defence projects, BNS reports. Deputy Defence Minister Karolis Aleksa said that Lithuania would use the EU funds to acquire tanks or tracked infantry fighting vehicles for a national army division. Also,…
Building a “drone wall” on NATO’s eastern flank is a priority for Estonia’s and Europe’s security, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated, ERR reports. Speaking at the European Council and European Political Community meeting in Copenhagen, Michal said that political support from NATO allies to strengthen the defence alliance’s eastern border was “very strong.” He…
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte clashed over the defence alliance’s response to Russia’s recent airspace violations, ERR reports, citing Fox News. After Russian fighter jets made a brazen incursion into Estonian airspace on 19 September 2025, Estonia requested consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty. Given that NATO…