On September 11, at least until September 18, with the possibility of extension, Latvia is closing the airspace on the eastern border, Defense Minister Andris Spruds announced at a press conference. He noted that Wednesday's events in Poland are a clear violation of NATO airspace, and Latvia must take appropriate measures.
As reported by LSM, the airspace on the eastern border with Belarus and Russia is closed based on the assessment of the National Armed Forces.
The defense minister stated that Latvia is not currently facing a direct threat, but preventive measures need to be taken. Closing the airspace on the eastern border will allow full control of the restricted zone and facilitate the detection of unauthorized flying objects, as well as free up the restricted airspace zone for NATO fighters participating in the airspace patrol mission over the Baltics, explained Spruds.
“Russian drones in NATO airspace are a worrying signal, and we must do everything possible to prevent the escalation of drone attacks,” the minister noted.
Over the past year, changes have been made to regulations in the country that allow for the rapid closure of airspace in threatened areas, and changes have been implemented to enhance flight control in Latvia's eastern airspace.