Latvia’s parliament approves new government after drone controversy collapses coalition | News of the Russian-Ukrainian war

Latvia’s government reform makes the Western approach more assertive as regional drone activity raises security concerns.

Latvia’s parliament has approved a new coalition government that will lead the European Union and NATO in the coming months after their predecessors. He fainted following an argument on the use of stray drones believed to be of Ukrainian origin.

Around 66 ministers in the 100-seat assembly, lawmakers on Thursday confirmed 47-year-old Andris Kulbergs as prime minister, who will lead the Baltic nation of more than 1.8 million people until parliamentary elections on October 3.

Evika Silina resigned in mid-May after one of her partners stopped supporting her and left her without many. He resigned after Defense Minister Andris Spruds, a member of the Progressives Party, was forced to resign due to the government’s handling of several cases involving suspected Ukrainian drones crossing Latvian territory.

Silina accused the minister of not using anti-drone defenses quickly enough to destroy two Ukrainian drones, which are believed to have been destroyed by Russian airstrikes. At that point, he said, Spruds lost faith in him and the public. However, his three-party coalition was in trouble for months over several issues.

The drones caused little damage but raised concerns in the former Soviet republics, which are now members of NATO and the EU.

Earlier this month, President Edgars Rinkevics contributed Lawmaker opposing Kulbergs to replace Silina in the high post of Prime Minister.

“The duty of the government is to ensure that Latvia’s security is strong. This means ensuring the state’s external security, economic security, energy security, and people’s security in their country,” Kulbergs said in a speech in preparation for Thursday’s vote.

He also confirmed that outgoing foreign minister Baiba Braze will remain in office and appointed a soldier, Colonel Raivis Melnis, as defense minister.

Several Russian and Ukrainian drones have crashed in Latvia – and neighboring Lithuania and Estonia – since Russia annexed Ukraine in 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered to send experts to Latvia to help strengthen air defense.

Latvia’s new four-party coalition should be healthy in parliament and pursue pro-EU, pro-NATO policies. The parties of the union have emphasized the need to strengthen the army and the borders of the country of 1.8 million people.

“There is a strong consensus on foreign policy priorities,” political scientist Nils Muiznieks told AFP reporters, adding that the new government must also maintain strong ties with Ukraine.