Latvia, Poland, and Romania Call for Immediate NATO Air Defense Rotation

The defense ministers of Romania, Poland, and Latvia have signed a joint letter to NATO allies, urging the immediate implementation of NATO’s air defense rotation model. The letter also calls for the strengthening of NATO’s deterrence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and air patrol efforts along the alliance’s eastern flank.

As reported by the Latvian Ministry of Defense, the call came during a meeting of the “Bucharest Nine” defense ministers, initiated by Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds. At the meeting, Spruds emphasized the need for swift collective action to bolster NATO airspace in light of recent violations by Russian drones.

The meeting, convened by Latvia, brought together representatives from Romania, Poland, and Lithuania to discuss these incursions and how best to reinforce NATO’s airspace defenses. The defense ministers signed a joint letter urging their allies to take immediate steps.

The Latvian Ministry of Defense highlighted that Russian aggression continues to pose risks to NATO members, particularly through airspace violations by Russian drones. Over the past month, incidents involving Russian drones have occurred in Latvia, Romania, and Poland, marking a new and dangerous reality, according to Spruds.

The ministers emphasized the need for NATO countries to enhance their ability to detect, identify, and neutralize slow-moving, low-altitude objects. They urged the immediate adoption of the air defense rotation model to improve NATO’s readiness.

In a joint statement, the “Bucharest Nine” ministers condemned Russia’s war against Ukraine and expressed deep concern over repeated violations of NATO airspace by Russian drones in Latvia, Romania, Poland, and other alliance members.

Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr expressed that the countries of the “Bucharest Nine” are “deeply concerned” by these intrusions, stating that a “decisive” response is necessary.

The Bucharest Nine is a coalition of nine Central and Eastern European countries formed to enhance military cooperation along NATO’s eastern flank. Established to foster greater coordination among these nations, the B9 includes Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. These countries share concerns about regional security, particularly in the face of threats posed by Russia, and work together to strengthen NATO’s collective defense efforts.

Earlier in September, Latvia reported the fall of a Russian military drone equipped with explosives on its territory. The drone reportedly flew in from Belarus. Similar incidents, including drone downings in Romania, have prompted renewed NATO discussions on how to address these threats.