Latvia Facing 'Alarming' Period Amid Rising Russian Threat in Baltics, President Says
Rinkevics said drone warfare is advancing faster than Western defenses, and most NATO countries may not stop a major Russian missile barrage.
- Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs warned Europe is failing to keep pace with rapid developments in drone and aerial warfare, cautioning that current defense measures could become obsolete by mid-2027.
- Russian operational blueprints include hybrid drone and missile strikes against nations supporting Kyiv, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned parliament, aiming to erode alliance cohesion through orchestrated incidents.
- Technological adaptations in aerial combat progress at "lightning speed," Rinkēvičs stated according to The Guardian, creating defense procurement risks despite NATO troops on the eastern flank remaining ready.
- President Donald Trump signed legislation on September 18 authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on Russian energy buyers, a move Rinkēvičs expects will encourage European nations to phase out purchases.
- Preparing for potential cyberattacks around Latvia's October 3 parliamentary elections, Rinkēvičs urged allies to prioritize defense spending while voicing concerns about reaching the 5% of GDP target.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Latvia facing 'alarming' period amid rising Russian threat in Baltics, president says
In an interview with the Kyiv Independent, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said his government is preparing for cyberattacks, information campaigns, and possible disruptions by Russia.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has warned that Europe's and NATO's air defense systems could become obsolete very soon, as the alliance is not keeping up with the rapidly developing drone and air defense technologies experienced in Ukraine, UNN reported.
EADaily, 19 September 2026: NATO countries will not be able to reflect Russia's missile attack at this time if the Ukrainian conflict expands to a pan-European scale.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevičius stated that Europe is not keeping up with the development of drone technology and air warfare in Ukraine, and most NATO countries would have difficulty repelling a Russian missile attack if the conflict escalated.
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