Latvia's president warns NATO lacks air defenses for Russian missile threat
Edgars Rinkēvičs says Europe is falling behind on drone warfare and most NATO states cannot repel a Russian attack.
What to know
- Latvia's president warns that most NATO members cannot intercept Russian missiles if the conflict expands, citing rapid advances in drone warfare that may outpace Western defenses by mid-2027.
- The US has depleted nearly two-thirds of its critical Patriot interceptor stocks in the Iran war, with replenishment estimated to take five years; no agreement yet on outsourcing production to Europe or Ukraine.
- Poland's PM warns Russia may conduct hybrid strikes against NATO allies supporting Ukraine to test Article 5 collective defense commitments, potentially disguising attacks as accidents.
- Trump downplayed NATO vulnerability concerns, stating Russia has already been attacking Ukrainian allies for five years, while endorsing Poland's president.
“It's up to the United States government, it's up to the company. We have some capacities in Europe, but let's face it: Patriots are still one of the best, if not the best, to tackle this.”
Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of Latvia · The Guardian ↗ · Sep 17
Edgars Rinkēvičs President of Latvia
Donald Tusk Prime Minister of Poland
Donald Trump US President
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Rinkēvičs warns NATO unprepared for Russian air threat
During a Guardian interview in Washington DC, Latvia's President Edgars Rinkēvičs warned that Europe is not keeping up with drone and aerial warfare developments in Ukraine and that most NATO countries could not repulse a Russian missile attack if the conflict expands. He stated that technological developments are moving at "lightning speed" and current defense efforts could be obsolete by mid-2027.
“What we see is that air defence, drone defence, anti-ballistic defence has serious problems. And let's be frank. Ukraine has it. The whole of Europe and Nato has it.”
— Edgars Rinkēvičs -
1 outlet Latvia’s president warns that Europe is not up to date with drone and aerial warfare in Ukraine
first by Guardian, 5d ago
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KYIV POST: Most NATO Allies Cannot Repel Russian Missile Attack, Latvia Says https://www. kyivpost.com/post/84914 Most NATO nations lack the air defense capabilities to intercept Russian missile strikes if the conflict spreads, and Europe is failing to keep pace with the rapid evolution of drone warfare in Ukraine, Latvian President Edgars…
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You mean the country that literally lost millions defending it twice? yeah.. I'd say so
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Ukraine is Europe though and they gladly share technology with its main supporters.
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background
Trump dismisses NATO vulnerability concerns, backs Polish president — Trump responded to Tusk's concerns about Russia attacking Ukrainian allies by stating Russia has already been attacking them for approximately five years, then pivoted to endorse Polish President Karol Nawrocki, calling him "a big Trump fan" doing "a fantastic job."
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background
US has depleted two-thirds of Patriot interceptor stocks in Iran war — Analysis of a Congressional Budget Office assessment reveals the US has expended nearly two-thirds of its critical interceptor stocks in the war in Iran, with replenishment estimated to take at least five years. The US has considered outsourcing Patriot production to Ukraine and Europe but no agreement has been finalized.
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Tusk warns Russia may test NATO Article 5 with hybrid strikes — Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned in a speech that Russia could launch drone or missile strikes against NATO countries supporting Ukraine in the coming months to test the alliance's commitment to collective defense under Article 5, potentially attempting to portray incidents as accidents.