Crisis in Middle East must be addressed jointly by transatlantic and European partners - National Security Council

RIGA - The crisis in the Middle East should be addressed jointly by transatlantic and European partners, the National Security Council concluded at a meeting chaired by President Edgars Rinkevics on Wednesday.

As the president's spokesman Martins Dregeris told LETA, the meeting discussed current international affairs, including the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East. The Council recognized that developments in the Middle East are having a direct impact on global security and the peace process in Ukraine.

The Council stresses the need to work together with transatlantic and European partners to find solutions to the current crisis, but at the same time the international community must not cease providing support to Ukraine.

The meeting also reviewed progress in interinstitutional coordination and the legal framework for the implementation of drone and anti-drone solutions. The Council heard reports by the defense minister and the commander of the National Armed Forces, the minister of the interior and the chief of the State Police, as well as the transport minister and the director of the Civil Aviation Agency.

The Council agreed that the rapid development of unmanned systems and their widespread use, in particular the lessons learned from the Russia's war in Ukraine, necessitate further strengthening of unmanned systems, anti-drone, and electronic warfare capabilities.

The Council also stressed the importance of effective civil-military coordination, with the need for each institution to be clearly aware of its responsibilities and to plan its action algorithms accordingly.

The Council believes that, since the drone incident at Riga Airport in January 2025, which revealed significant shortcomings, the legal framework on UAV flight regulations has been improved and the right of the State Police to use special means to counter the illegal use of UAVs for the security of protected objects or critical infrastructure has been extended. The Council recognizes, however, that it is important to further develop both the legal framework and the implementation of countermeasures.

The National Security Council also heard reports from national security authorities.