French fighter jets shoot down a drone in Latvia on behalf of NATO

A drone was shot down Sunday in Latvian airspace by NATO fighter jets, the Latvian military announced. The aircraft, whose origin was not specified, had illegally entered airspace protected by the Atlantic Alliance. Two French planes carried out the operation after taking off from the Siauliai airbase in northern Lithuania, according to a Lithuanian military spokesperson. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Baltic region, where six Russian military aircraft were intercepted in the same waters in recent hours.

A permanent protection device

Latvia, a NATO member since 2004, benefits from continuous airspace protection by allied fighter jets. The Baltic states, lacking modern fighters, rely on rotations of air forces from various member states to carry out this air policing mission. France has regularly participated in this operation for several years, deploying its aircraft from Lithuania to cover the entire area. The rapid intervention demonstrates the constant state of alert maintained by the alliance in the face of intrusions into a sector considered strategic.

Origin of the drone not specified

The Latvian army confirmed the destruction of the drone without providing further details about its origin or the exact circumstances of its intrusion. Authorities also did not specify the type of aircraft shot down or its distance from the border. This operation is part of a series of aerial incidents in recent months in the region, where tensions remain high. The increasing number of interceptions of Russian military aircraft reflects the heightened vigilance of NATO forces in this part of Europe.