Latvia is in political turmoil this week after a drone incursion near the Russian border forced the resignation of Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and the dismissal of Defence Minister Andris Sprūds. The incident, which occurred last Thursday in the eastern Latgale region near the towns of Balvi and Ludza, saw multiple drones enter Latvian airspace and crash, with one striking an oil storage facility and causing a minor fire. No casualties were reported, but residents complained that emergency alerts arrived nearly an hour after the event.
Siliņa stated that the episode “clearly demonstrated that the political leadership of the defence sector has failed to fulfil its promise of safe skies over our country.” The coalition government collapsed on Thursday, triggering a political crisis ahead of October elections. Sprūds, who resigned on Sunday, told Euronews that “it is difficult to deal with drones which have lost their trajectory” and argued that Latvia must now focus on strengthening its resilience against future crises “that are coming.”
The Baltic state has blamed Russia for electronically redirecting Ukrainian drones into its airspace, a claim that has fuelled domestic criticism of Sprūds’s handling of national security. In recent weeks, similar drone incursions have been reported in Lithuania and Estonia, raising broader concerns about the Baltic states’ readiness to respond to military threats. Finland also reported a drone alert earlier today, though President Alex Stubb confirmed there was “no direct military threat.”
Latvia is currently finalising a €3.49 billion defence loan from the European Union under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) scheme. For more details, read our exclusive interview with Sprūds and an in-depth investigation into the failings that occurred.
US-China Summit: Fragile Truce Holds
In Beijing, U.S. President Donald Trump concluded a two-day state visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday, focusing on stabilising relations and preserving a fragile truce agreed at the end of last year. The leaders met for tea at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound before a diplomatic lunch, after which Trump posted on Truth Social that “Hopefully our relationship with China will be stronger and better than ever before,” adding that Xi had congratulated him “on so many tremendous successes in such a short period of time.”
The visit yielded a Chinese offer to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, alongside a warning from Beijing that mishandling Taiwan could trigger conflict. According to the White House, both sides agreed that the Strait must remain open to support the free flow of energy, and Trump said Xi assured him China would not provide military equipment to Iran. The most contentious issue remains Taiwan, with Xi warning that disputes over the self-governed island—which China claims as its own—could lead to confrontation or conflict.
The summit primarily aimed to preserve the tariff truce from October, when Washington agreed to lower tariffs on all Chinese goods and Beijing paused restrictions on rare earth exports. Europe is closely watching the outcome, as any escalation could disrupt global trade flows. For more analysis, see our report on how Brussels is bracing for trade and tech fallout.
Poland Registers First Same-Sex Marriage
In a landmark move, Warsaw registered its first same-sex marriage on Thursday, following a November ruling by the European Union’s highest court that ordered Poland to recognise same-sex marriages registered in other EU countries. The Polish Supreme Administrative Court cited that ruling in ordering authorities to recognise the marriage in Germany of two Polish men. Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski said, “This morning we issued the first transcription of a marriage certificate for a same-sex couple, in accordance with the court rulings,” and promised the city would proactively recognise other such marriages even without a specific court order.
EU Prepares Energy Overhaul
As the war in the Middle East exacerbates Europe’s energy crisis, the European Commission is preparing a major overhaul of grid charges and electricity-related taxes, according to a draft document seen by Euronews. Network charges currently account for 27% of household electricity bills and 21% for businesses, while national taxes and levies add another 24% for households and 16% for firms. The Commission’s focus on taxation is expected to be politically sensitive, as capitals push for relief for households and industries struggling with soaring prices.
