Russia's provocations against the West will increase - Kubilius

RIGA - Provocations organized by Russia against the West will increase, the European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, told reporters in Riga on Thursday.

He cited public warnings by German and Dutch intelligence services that in three or four years Russian dictator Vladimir Putin could be ready for new aggression. The West is currently facing provocations from Russia, such as drone incursions, so such provocations can be expected to increase.

Given these risks, we need to develop our defense capabilities very rapidly and be very practical in providing necessary supplies, so that we can defend ourselves and deter any aggression or provocation, which includes the continuation and development of the Eastern Flank Watch and the drone wall projects, said Kubilius.

Roughly speaking, the Eastern Flank Watch consists of two "walls" at the same time. One is a "ground wall", or anti-mobility measures on the ground to prevent the enemy's heavy equipment from entering our territory. The other is the "drone wall", intended to prevent drone provocations or incursions into our airspace. Both need to be developed as very important projects to protect border countries and Europe as a whole, the EU commissioner said.

He did not deny that when discussing major projects, opinions and assessments differ, as this is natural and the EU is ready to discuss and find the best solutions.

Kubilius noted that the recent drone provocations showed that no European country is fully protected and that Russia can use ships, including those of its "shadow fleet", as drone launchpads.

The EU commissioner stressed that the "drone wall" project should also take into account Ukraine's experience in counter-drone measures, and should be able to destroy drones, which cost around EUR 10,000, in a cost-effective way, rather than with EUR 1 million air defense missiles.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) agreed with the EU commissioner, saying that no European country is far enough from Russia to be protected against its provocations. Spruds stressed that defense technologies must be developed in a multi-layered system underpinned by three pillars. The first pillar would be drone detection with radars and sensors, the second pillar would be drone counter-measures, while the third pillar would integrate ground and air systems.

The defense minister said that at sea, Latvia is ready to continue all activities related to counter-drone technologies, and Latvia is the leading country in the drone coalition in support of Ukraine.