Latvia has a duty and responsibility to guarantee the security of the external borders of NATO and the EU, said Krišjānis Kariņš, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, after a Russian plane violated Latvian airspace.
In response, Latvia summoned the Russian ambassador and handed him a note of protest. “Our duty and responsibility remain unchanged – to ensure the security of the external borders of NATO and the EU. Yesterday, it was discovered that a Russian plane violated the airspace of Latvia. Today, the head of the Russian embassy was summoned and a note of protest was handed to him,” Kariņš said.
The radar of the Latvian Air Force recorded a violation of the country’s airspace on Monday, November 6. After illegally crossing the border, the Russian plane returned to the territory of Russia. At the same time, the National Armed Forces initiated the necessary actions to prevent any threat to Latvia’s security. In addition, operational information about the incident was sent to NATO.
Latvia’s Defense Ministry also said that the country is strengthening the protection of its land borders, airspace, and territorial waters and that NATO allies are patrolling the airspace over the Baltic States – considering a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Cover: EP
