Latvia announced on September 11th that it will close its airspace along the border with Russia and Belarus starting this evening and continuing until at least September 18th. Defense Minister Andris Sprūds stated the measure follows Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace, describing it as a "wake-up call for NATO," and emphasized that while there is no direct threat to Latvia, preventive measures are necessary. The decision by Latvia comes as a direct response to the recent Russian drone activity that violated Polish airspace, prompting Poland to restrict its own air traffic and request a UN Security Council meeting. Latvian Defence Minister Sprūds indicated that the closure was a preventive measure, despite no direct threat to Latvia. This development in Latvia mirrors the escalating concerns across NATO member states following the incident. Earlier today, September 11th, Polish and Dutch military jets were scrambled due to the Russian drone incursions over Polish territory. Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its request for the UN Security Council meeting to address the violation, which Deputy Prime Minister Radek Sikorski characterized as an "unprecedented alarm in NATO history."
