Russia Threatens Latvia With Retaliation Over Alleged Drone Launches as NATO Backs Baltic Ally
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 19
Russia Threatens Latvia With Retaliation Over Alleged Drone Launches as NATO Backs Baltic Ally
7 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 19
Russia's UN ambassador said Moscow had intelligence that Ukraine planned to launch military drones from Latvia and other Baltic states, warning NATO membership would not shield them from retaliation.
Latvia rejected the accusation as "pure fiction," summoned the acting head of Russia's mission and said it had never allowed its territory or airspace to be used for attacks on Russia.
The United States told the Security Council the UN was no place for threats against a council member and said Washington would uphold all NATO commitments; Ukraine's envoy also dismissed the claims as "fairy tales."
Tuesday's clash followed fresh Baltic drone alarms: Latvia twice issued air threat alerts near the Russian border and scrambled NATO jets, but later said it found no evidence a drone had entered its airspace.
The dispute comes after Ukraine accused Russia of diverting one of its drones into Estonian airspace, underscoring how cross-border drone incidents are raising tensions around NATO's eastern flank.
Are Russia's threats a direct attack on the Latvia-led coalition supplying thousands of drones to Ukraine?
As Russia issues direct military threats, will NATO's verbal reassurances be enough to protect Latvia?
Amidst stray drone incidents, could Russia's claims exploit real gaps in Baltic airspace defenses?