Lithuania: NATO planes should shoot down Russian drones over Baltic states

Photo: Laurynas Kasciunas/REUTERS/Heiko Becker

Lithuania's defense minister said on Wednesday, September 11, that NATO planes based in the Baltic states should shoot down Russian drones that violate their airspace. The statement came after a Russian drone crashed in Latvia last week, Agence France-Presse reported.

Fighter jets from NATO member states have been patrolling the skies over the Baltic states since they joined the military alliance in 2004, as the three former Soviet republics do not have the necessary aircraft fleets.

“NATO aircraft should not only patrol but also, if necessary, if possible, destroy (Russian) drones,”— said Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kaščiūnas, speaking to journalists in Vilnius.

He added that this requires simplifying the decision-making process for destroying drones.

His comments came after a Russian drone crashed in Latvia on Saturday, September 7. The Latvian Armed Forces said it was an Iranian-made Shahed drone equipped with explosives.

On Tuesday, September 10, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs said his country was discussing the Russian drone issue with its allies.

“We are raising the issue of drone interception protocols with our NATO partners, calling for the immediate use of allied combat aircraft when such drones are spotted near our borders,” — Rinkēvičs said.

Officials in the Baltic states have also called on NATO to step up plans to deploy ground-based air defense systems along the bloc's eastern border.

NATO countries lack sufficient ground-based air defense systems, but last year they agreed to short-term deployments to deter Russia.

In April, the Netherlands deployed its Patriot air defense systems for exercises in Lithuania, but the Baltic states want the air defense systems to be permanently stationed in the region.

In early September, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Warsaw should have the right to shoot down Russian missiles threatening its territory in Ukrainian airspace.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga