Russian plane's border crossing sparks security moves in Latvia
9:04 AM EST, November 8, 2023
On Tuesday, the Latvian Ministry of Defense reported a violation of its airspace by a Russian aircraft the prior Monday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented a protest note to a Russian diplomat regarding the incident.
The airspace violation, detected by Latvian radar, showed the aircraft illicitly crossing the border before returning to Russian airspace.
The Latvian Ministry of Defense outlined its proactive response in a public message. The statement emphasized "the armed forces have implemented necessary measures to prevent any threats to the country's security". It was also highlighted that NATO has been informed with detailed information about the incident.
Delivering the protest note
Additionally, the Ministry of Defense corresponded with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riga regarding the situation. On Tuesday, a representative from the Russian embassy in Latvia was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was presented with a protest note in response to Monday’s airspace violation.
The ministry highlighted that due to the ongoing Russian aggression towards Ukraine, Latvia is currently reinforcing the protection of its land borders, airspace, and territorial waters. Moreover, it was stated that the airspace above Baltic countries is intermittently patrolled by various NATO nations.
