Latvian Prime Minister resigns after coalition fractures over Ukrainian drone incident

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has resigned following the collapse of her governing coalition, triggered by her controversial dismissal of Defence Minister Andris Spruds over the handling of Ukrainian drones that strayed into the Baltic nation's airspace in early May.

The political crisis underscores the escalating tensions in Eastern Europe as Ukrainian military operations against Russian targets increasingly spill across borders, creating diplomatic friction between Kyiv and its NATO allies.

The drone incident and government response

On 7 May, multiple Ukrainian attack drones targeting Russian positions crossed into Latvian territory after being electronically diverted by Russian military jamming systems. One drone struck a disused oil storage facility in eastern Latvia, causing a fire but no reported casualties.

Ukraine acknowledged responsibility for the incident, explaining that Russian electronic warfare capabilities had forced the unmanned aircraft off course. However, Latvia's initial response to the incursion drew widespread criticism from both domestic and international observers, with analysts arguing the government's anti-drone defences had responded too slowly.

Ms Silina on Sunday sacked her defence minister Andris Spruds over the affair, saying Latvia's anti-drone systems had not been deployed quickly enough to counter the drone intrusions.

Coalition collapse over scapegoating allegations

The dismissal of Mr Spruds proved catastrophic for Ms Silina's governing coalition. Nine members of the left-wing Progressive Party—Mr Spruds's political allies—withdrew their support from the government, alleging that the Prime Minister had made the Defence Minister a scapegoat for systemic failures in Latvia's air defence protocols.

The loss of the Progressive Party's parliamentary backing left Ms Silina's government without a working majority, forcing her resignation.

Broader implications for NATO's eastern flank

The incident highlights growing challenges for NATO members bordering Ukraine and Russia. Latvian officials must balance solidarity with Ukraine against protecting national security and maintaining domestic political stability. The country hosts significant NATO military infrastructure and remains acutely vulnerable to Russian military operations.

Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, stray munitions and drones have repeatedly crossed into neighbouring NATO territories, including Poland and Romania. Each incident tests the alliance's cohesion and complicates relations between member states and Kyiv.

Questions over defence preparedness

The episode has raised uncomfortable questions about Latvia's readiness to defend against aerial threats. The delay in deploying anti-drone systems during the 7 May incident suggests potential vulnerabilities in the country's air defence network—a critical concern given Latvia's location just 250 kilometres from Russian territory.

Experts note that Ukrainian drone operations will likely intensify, increasing the statistical probability of further cross-border incidents that could strain NATO unity at a delicate moment.

This article reports on developments originally covered by ABC News.