French Rafale shoots down Russian drone over Latvia
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- French Rafale fighter jet shot down an unidentified drone that entered Latvian airspace from Russia, according to a French military spokesperson.
- NATO command authorized the shoot‑down, with Latvian defence minister Raivis Melnis confirming the decision.
- Latvian army said the drone entered “as a result of Russian electromagnetic warfare” and was downed at 0705 GMT near the village of Berzgale, about 30 km from the border.
- Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs praised the “swift decision‑making and professional action” on X after the incident.
- NATO Baltic Air Police includes French, Romanian and Portuguese F‑16 fighters patrolling the skies of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia; a Romanian jet recently shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonia.
- Authorities reported no injuries or property damage, though they had earlier warned residents in eastern Latvia to shelter indoors.
Why it matters: The successful interception underscores NATO’s rapid response capacity, reinforcing Latvia’s air security and signaling to Russia that border violations will be met with decisive action, while reassuring Baltic allies that the collective defense framework can effectively deter further incursions and protect civilian populations.
