Riga, Latvia - Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today it has summoned the Russian Ambassador to Riga, Alexey Grechko, to demand an explanation after an unidentified aerial vehicle, suspected to be a drone, briefly entered Latvian airspace late yesterday evening.

According to a statement released by the Ministry, the drone was detected by Latvian air defense systems near the eastern border, close to Russia and Belarus. While the vehicle did not pose an immediate threat and quickly exited Latvian airspace, the incident is being treated with utmost seriousness.

“We view this incursion as a clear violation of Latvian sovereignty and international law,” stated Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs in a press conference this morning. “We expect a full and transparent explanation from the Russian Federation regarding the origin and purpose of this unmanned aerial vehicle.”

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region, following ongoing military exercises near NATO's eastern flank. Latvia, a member of both NATO and the European Union, has consistently voiced its concern regarding Russian military activity in the region.

NATO allies have been informed of the incident and are being consulted. While Latvian officials have not explicitly identified the drone as Russian, they are demanding a credible account to prevent further violations of their airspace.

Ambassador Grechko is expected to arrive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs later today. The outcome of the meeting and any resulting diplomatic actions remain to be seen. This incident marks the first time Latvia has reported an airspace violation of this nature, further escalating concerns regarding regional security.