All posts tagged: NATO

NATO shoots down drone over Latvia as concern about Ukraine war’s spread grows

NATO shoots down drone over Latvia as concern about Ukraine war’s spread grows

Published by Sam Flores

A French fighter jet shot down a drone that entered NATO ally Latvia’s airspace from Russia on Monday, the latest security incident along Europe’s eastern border while Russia wages war on Ukraine. NATO command ordered the shoot-down after it was determined that Russia had used electromagnetic warfare in the area, Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melnis told reporters. The drone was brought down Monday morning near the village of Berzgale, roughly 20 miles from the border. No property damage or injuries were reported. Source link

NATO jets shoot down drone over Latvia, extending Ukraine spillover fears | Russia-Ukraine war News

NATO jets shoot down drone over Latvia, extending Ukraine spillover fears | Russia-Ukraine war News

Published by Sam Flores

The drone entered Latvian airspace due to ‘Russian electronic warfare’, the military says. Published On 8 Jun 20268 Jun 2026 NATO fighters have scrambled to shoot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace from Russia. The Latvian military said on Monday that French aircraft had destroyed “a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle that had entered Latvian airspace as a result of Russian electronic warfare”, without saying where the drone originated. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The incident adds a growing list of incursions from the Russia-Ukraine war into neighbouring countries that are part of the NATO alliance, sparking fears of escalating spillover effects as Moscow’s siege on Ukraine continues apace. “Thank you to our French allies for shooting down the drone that penetrated Latvian airspace!” Riga’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braze wrote on social media. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs heralded the “swift decision-making and professional action”. Defence Minister Raivis Melnis told reporters the drone was shot down just after 9am local time (07:00 GMT) near the village of Berzgale, located about 30km (18 …

French NATO jet shoots down drone over Latvia as another explodes in Moldova

French NATO jet shoots down drone over Latvia as another explodes in Moldova

Published by Sam Flores

A French military Rafale fighter jet shot down a drone that entered NATO member Latvia’s airspace from Russia on Monday, the latest ​in a ‌series of such security incidents along Europe’s eastern border regions. The Latvian army, without saying ⁠who launched the drone, said it entered from Russia “as a result of Russian electromagnetic warfare”. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, in a post on X, hailed “swift ‌decision-making and professional action” over the incident. A French army spokesperson confirmed French warplanes had shot down ⁠an unidentified drone, and a NATO official said: “It shows once again NATO’s determination and ability to deter and defend.” Read moreHegseth blasts ‘invasion’ of migrants on Europe’s beaches in D-Day speech in France The final decision to shoot down the drone was taken by NATO command, ​Latvian Defence Minister Raivis Melnis told reporters. Latvia said Russia had been identified ‌as using electronic warfare before the drone entered the country and was shot down at 0705 GMT near the village of Berzgale about 30 km (18 miles) from the border. No …

French jet on NATO mission shoots down drone in Latvian airspace, army says

French jet on NATO mission shoots down drone in Latvian airspace, army says

Published by Sam Flores

RIGA, Latvia: A French military Rafale fighter jet shot down a drone on Monday (Jun 8) that entered NATO country Latvia’s airspace from Russia, the latest in a series of such security incidents along Europe’s eastern border regions. The Latvian army, without saying who had launched the drone, said it had entered from Russia “as a result of Russian electromagnetic warfare”. “Allied fighter jets successfully shoot down a drone flying into Latvian airspace!” it said in a post on social media X. Authorities had earlier on Monday warned people in eastern Latvian regions to seek shelter indoors because of the threat. The alert ended when the drone was shot down, the army said, but another air threat warning was issued later on Monday for eastern residents. Military drones straying into the airspace of Russia’s neighbours have been stoking concerns that the war in Ukraine is spilling over into NATO’s northern borders. Ukraine has in recent months stepped up long-range drone attacks on Russia, including in the Baltic Sea area, where several Ukrainian military drones have …

On Nato’s border with Russia, I witnessed the death of tank warfare

On Nato’s border with Russia, I witnessed the death of tank warfare

Published by Sam Flores

This article is the fifth in a series exploring Europe’s efforts to rearm against the threat of a Russian invasion at a time when the United States is pulling away from Nato. Hidden in dense woodland 18 miles from the Russian border, Nato anti-tank teams lie in wait to ambush a Finnish column. The scrape of metal tracks across a dirt road pierces the silent forest as the pack of German-made Leopard 2 tanks charges forward. Without warning, camouflaged soldiers break cover from the treeline and unleash a volley of missiles at the heavily armoured vehicles before the Finnish conscripts have time to react. Within seconds, three tanks are destroyed and their young crews, aged 19 and 20, are killed as the anti-tank teams quietly slip back into the wilderness. Almost 300 miles to the south, in the lake-potted forests near Kouvola, another group of Leopard 2s is immobilised by drones and artillery strikes on the border, having bunched up too closely together on a track through pine trees. Nato must now keep up with …

Pete Hegseth Branded ‘Absolute Bum’ Over Attack On Nato Countries At D-Day Commemoration

Pete Hegseth Branded ‘Absolute Bum’ Over Attack On Nato Countries At D-Day Commemoration

Published by Sam Flores

Pete Hegseth looks up as he delivers a speech at the US cemetery to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings. via Associated Press Pete Hegseth has been condemned after he used a D-Day commemoration to accuse Nato countries of not doing enough to tackle illegal immigration. The US defence secretary was branded “an absolute bum” after saying “European beaches are [being] stormed by different, dangerous ideologies”. Critics said his comments, at the Normandy American Cemetery in north-west France on the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings, were disrespectful to the memory of those who died in the Second World War. Nearly 4,500 Allied troops were killed attempting to liberate Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944. Hegseth said: “Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different, dangerous ideologies. Beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive. “When will European capitals do something about that invasion or is it too late? I pray not, and I believe not.” But his comments sparked a furious backlash on social media. Former Labour MP …

Estonia’s former President on lessons learnt in dealing with Putin – Spotlight

Estonia’s former President on lessons learnt in dealing with Putin – Spotlight

Published by Sam Flores

There is an ongoing NATO exercise taking place right now just off the south western coast of Estonia in the Gulf of Riga, and around the Baltic Sea stretching south to Skagan on the coast of Denmark.  Exercise “Baltops”, with 20 ships, roughly 6,000 troops, and 16 countries taking part is usually one of the most significant NATO exercises of the year, and the oldest it started in 1972.  There are anti- submarine warfare drills, amphibious landings, and maritime drone ops, but it’s a notably scaled down exercise this year, with half the number of ships there usually are. The US drawdown is a big factor, almost half of its deployed warships have been in the Persian Gulf. Military analysts say it’s also compounded by Washington’s changing priorities and current worldview, which has shifted away from the European arena. Add to that President Trump’s consistent criticism and social media screeds AGAINST NATO allies for not immediately assisting in his war against Iran, and for their objection to Trump’s idea of annexing Greenland.  While NATO is …

US Tells Europe, Canada to Boost NATO Air and Naval Forces

US Tells Europe, Canada to Boost NATO Air and Naval Forces

Published by Sam Flores

BRUSSELS, June 3 (Reuters) – The U.S. expects European NATO allies and Canada ⁠to ⁠swiftly increase the number of manned ⁠and unmanned aircraft and ships they contribute to the alliance’s defence plans as Washington steps ​back in these areas, a top U.S. general said on Wednesday. The statement by U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s top commander and ‌the head of U.S. forces in ‌Europe, followed a decision by the Trump administration to shrink the pool of U.S. military capabilities available to NATO in a crisis. U.S. ⁠President Donald Trump ⁠has repeatedly criticised NATO and told its European members they will have to ​take over primary responsibility for the conventional defence of the continent. The U.S. told allies last month of its decision to reduce its contribution to a framework known as the NATO Force Model, which includes a pool of forces that could be activated during a crisis. But it ​did not publicly disclose any details. Grynkewich’s statement, issued after a meeting of NATO military planners on Wednesday, was ⁠the first ⁠public indication of …

Romania says Russian drone hit apartment block, NATO vows to defend alliance territory

Romania says Russian drone hit apartment block, NATO vows to defend alliance territory

Published by Sam Flores

ROMANIA SCRAMBLED F-16 JETS Local authorities in southern Ukraine said Izmail port in the Odesa region, across the border from Galati, had come under attack from drones early on Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to support Romania “in whatever way is necessary”. The Romanian defence ministry said two F-16 fighter jets had been scrambled and a military helicopter was sent to monitor the attack, with the pilots authorised to shoot down any drones without endangering inhabited areas. The residents of border counties Braila, Galati and Tulcea were warned to take cover. The drone was in Romania‘s airspace for four minutes and flew at a low altitude for 10 km (6.2 miles), making it difficult for radar to detect, Romanian Brigadier General Gheorghe Maxim said. He told a press conference that although the US anti-drone system Merops is operational in Romania it is not yet fully integrated with national air defences and it would have been too risky to use in a city. In addition to the woman and her child who …

Romania asks for NATO support after Russian drone crash – POLITICO

Romania asks for NATO support after Russian drone crash – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The alliance is “assessing what more can be done now to optimise Romania and NATO’s network of sensors and shooters to safely neutralize such threats,” the same official said. That could include bringing Romania’s MEROPS counter-drone system “under NATO command,”they said, adding that allies would “have an opportunity” to offer additional capabilities during an force generation conference early next month. Sorin Moldovan, Romania’s deputy defense minister, said last week at the POLITICO Speakeasy at the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague that if there is a risk to civilians “you don’t give the [order] to fire.” The full list of kit Romania is asking for remains classified, but the country’s interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan listed specialized radars that detect low-altitude drones as one example of the type of equipment the government had requested from NATO partners. Radu Tudor, an independent security expert, argued one reason NATO had been slow to respond to previous Romanian air defense requests was down to the speed of Russian drone-related innovation, which rapidly puts NATO equipment out of date. “They are evolving …