In a span of 24 hours, NATO airspace was breached by Russian drones in two separate incidents, raising concerns about security along the alliance's eastern flank. The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) entered the airspace of Latvia and Romania, both NATO members since 2004.
On Saturday, September 7, 2024, a Russian drone crashed near Rezekne, Latvia. Andrea Spruds, Latvia's defense minister, stated that the UAV likely strayed from neighboring Belarus, a Russian ally. The following day, another drone entered Romanian airspace during a nighttime attack on Ukraine.
Romania responded by dispatching F-16 fighter jets to monitor the situation and issued text alerts to residents in two eastern regions. Fragments of the drone were discovered in an uninhabited area near Periprava, a Romanian village across the Danube from Ismail, a Ukrainian port frequently targeted by Russian attacks.
Edgar Rinkevics, the Latvian president, emphasized the need for collective action: "We are in close contact with our allies. The number of such incidents is increasing along the eastern flank of NATO and we must address them collectively."
These events highlight the growing security challenges faced by NATO members bordering Russia and its allies. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began 31 months ago, alliance members have encountered multiple threats from Russian missiles and drones.
"NATO condemns the overnight Russian airspace violation into Romanian airspace. While we have no information indicating an intentional attack by Russia against Allies, these acts are irresponsible and potentially dangerous."
Despite the frequency of these incidents, none have been deemed significant enough to trigger NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause, which has only been invoked once in the alliance's history, following the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
Both Latvia and Romania have called for strengthened border security and improved air defense capabilities. The Latvian defense ministry emphasized that "Latvian airspace is part of NATO airspace," underscoring the collective nature of the alliance's security commitments.
As NATO, founded in 1949 with 12 original members, now comprises 31 countries, these incidents serve as a reminder of the complex security landscape along its eastern borders. The alliance continues to adapt to evolving threats, balancing vigilance with measured responses to avoid escalation.