Latvia will close its airspace along its borders with Belarus and Russia starting at 6 p.m. today, September 11th, and continuing until at least September 18th, as a preventive measure following Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace. Defense Minister Andris Sprūds stated that while there is no direct threat to Latvia, the airspace closure is deemed essential. This action follows previous reports of Polish and Dutch military jets being scrambled in response to Russian drone activity over Poland, which prompted Poland to restrict its own air traffic and request a UN Security Council meeting. Deputy Prime Minister Radek Sikorski characterized the Polish airspace violation as an "unprecedented alarm in NATO history." In related developments, Lithuania's Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė confirmed this morning that no unidentified aircraft entered Lithuanian airspace during the Russian drone attacks on Poland, despite earlier reports. Meanwhile, comments from an unverified source suggest the Kremlin is challenging NATO, warning that a weak response could lead Europe to the brink of a new war.
