French NATO Jets Down Drone in Latvian Airspace

French NATO fighter jets intercepted and shot down a drone that violated Latvian airspace on June 8, 2026, prompting gratitude from Latvian officials.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze thanked French allies for their swift action, writing on X, "Thank you to our French allies for shooting down the drone that entered Latvian airspace!" The Latvian military stated that a "foreign unmanned aircraft penetrated Latvian airspace following Russian electronic warfare," without specifying the drone's origin.

The two French aircraft launched from the Šiauliai air base in northern Lithuania and downed the drone around 10:00 local time. This event is significant as it represents the first time NATO air police have intercepted a foreign drone in the airspace of a Baltic state since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Previously, on May 19, a NATO fighter jet shot down a Ukrainian drone in Estonian airspace.

The Baltic states, which share long borders with Russia, have reported a growing number of drone intrusions and crashes on their territories in recent weeks. European officials suggest Russia may be deliberately diverting Ukrainian drones, intended for targets in the St. Petersburg region, into Baltic airspace. These incidents have exposed vulnerabilities in the Baltic states' air defense systems, which have struggled to neutralize errant drones before they fall.

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Thank you to our French allies for shooting down the drone that entered Latvian airspace!