Baltic states boost defenses after drone incursions
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- Baltic states have been digging anti‑tank ditches, pouring concrete bunkers and erecting rows of dragon’s teeth obstacles to prepare for possible Russian attacks.
- Romanian NATO fighter jet was scrambled in mid‑May after a suspected Ukrainian drone entered Baltic airspace, while Lithuania issued a public shelter alert for a second incursion within 48 hours.
- Russia claimed Ukraine planned to launch drones from Latvia; Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would respond 'appropriately', but Latvia dismissed the allegation as false.
- Latvia’s ruling coalition collapsed after a dispute over the government’s handling of stray drones, and Prime Minister Evika Silina later resigned following her dismissal of Defence Minister Andris Spruds.
- Lithuania faces heightened vulnerability due to its border with Kaliningrad and the Suwałki Gap, prompting volunteers to train in anti‑drone warfare and a poll showing 76 % of respondents view Russia as a hybrid threat.
- Estonia reported multiple drone incursions, including a Russian MiG‑31 breach that triggered Italian F‑35s under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, and a Ukrainian drone crash at the Auvere power station.
- NATO maintains between 15,000 and 22,000 multinational troops across the Baltic states and Poland, underscoring the alliance’s role as the primary security guarantee for the region.
Why it matters: The wave of drone incursions has prompted the Baltic states to accelerate fortifications, scramble NATO fighters and trigger political upheaval—e.g., Latvia’s coalition collapse—while NATO’s 15‑22 k troops remain the only credible deterrent against a potential Russian push, reshaping the region’s security dynamics.
