A French military jet, part of the NATO Baltic Air Police mission, shot down a drone in eastern Latvian airspace on Monday. This event marks the first time the alliance's rapid reaction Baltic Air Policing mission has shot down a drone in Latvia.
Military officials stated that the drone entered Latvian airspace due to Russian electromagnetic warfare. These incursions into countries neighboring Ukraine and Russia have fueled concerns that their four-and-a-half year war could spread.
Europe has remained on high alert for weeks following a string of drone flyovers into NATO airspace. Consequently, leaders have agreed to develop a drone wall to improve the detection and interception of drones violating their airspace.