Europe falls behind in drone warfare technology, vulnerable to Russian missile attacks — Latvian President
Europe is failing to keep pace with the development of warfare involving unmanned and aerial systems that Ukraine is experiencing, while most NATO countries would currently be unable to repel a Russian missile attack if the conflict were to expand.
In an interview with The Guardian, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed concern that Europe is falling behind in drone warfare technology, making it vulnerable to Russian missile attacks. Rinkēvičs stated that drone warfare in Ukraine is advancing rapidly, and current efforts to prepare for aerial warfare could become outdated by mid-year.
He highlighted that air defense, drone defense, and anti-ballistic defense systems in Europe and NATO are facing significant challenges. Rinkēvičs warned that a surprise Russian missile strike could pose a serious threat to many countries today. Ukraine and its European allies are currently experiencing delays in receiving crucial missiles for Patriot systems and other air-defense capabilities.
The United States has reportedly considered transferring Patriot system production to Ukraine and European nations, but no agreement has been reached yet due to technical licensing difficulties. Rinkēvičs emphasized that acts of sabotage, cyberattacks, and recent drone and missile incidents demonstrate Russia's testing of Europe's resolve to support Ukraine.
Although he did not foresee a conventional military invasion, he stressed the importance of vigilance against other potential scenarios. Furthermore, Rinkēvičs suggested that Russia might intensify its mobilization following local elections and use the winter period to pressure the Ukrainian front, taking all necessary steps to discourage countries supporting Ukraine from providing further assistance.
Written by urgent.news from Ukrinform - Politics's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
