{"id":2603206,"date":"2026-05-15T13:50:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T17:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/latvian-government-collapses-over-fallout-from-two-ukrainian-drones\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T13:53:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T17:53:25","slug":"latvian-government-collapses-over-fallout-from-two-ukrainian-drones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/latvian-government-collapses-over-fallout-from-two-ukrainian-drones\/","title":{"rendered":"Latvian government collapses over fallout from two Ukrainian drones"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flatvian-government-collapses-over-fallout-from-two-ukrainian-drones%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2603206&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Latvia\u2019s center-right government collapsed after two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russia-is-losing-the-war-for-the-skies-over-ukraine\/\" title=\"Russia Is Losing the War for the Skies Over Ukraine\">ukrainian drones<\/a> entered Latvian airspace and crashed. Although there were no casualties, the incident raised outcry over what was seen as a delayed and inadequate response-especially since the drones were not detected despite hitting areas near the city of Rezekne, close to the Russian border.<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Evika Silina blamed her Defense Minister, Andris Spruds, and dismissed him, citing failure to ensure \u201csafe skies.\u201d Spruds\u2019s party, the allied Progressives, then withdrew from the coalition, costing the government its majority. Silina subsequently resigned, accusing political ambition and party interests of overpowering obligation.<\/p>\n<p>Elections were set for October, but the article notes latvia\u2019s foreign policy is unlikely to change much because major parties remain largely pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia. It also points to the Latvia First party, which has gained support in polls and is more open to a pragmatic approach, including aligning with elements of Trump\u2019s proposed peace plan, though its <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >current vote share suggests<\/a> its influence on the next government remains uncertain.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>The government of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/latvia\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5472\">Latvia<\/a>, a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nato\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"603\">NATO<\/a> and European Union member, collapsed over the fallout of two stray <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ukraine\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"82\">Ukrainian<\/a> drones crashing in its territory.<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Evika Silina assumed office in September 2023, leading a coalition government of center-right parties. Her tenure saw Latvia fully in line with its hawkish Baltic neighbors, who have played an outsize role in adopting a more confrontational stance toward <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"80\">Russia<\/a>. Despite her harsh stance against Russia, Silina\u2019s downfall came from the exact opposite direction than one would expect: Ukraine.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4570115\/uae-construct-second-pipeline-double-exports-without-strait-of-hormuz\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>UAE to construct second pipeline to double exports without using Strait of Hormuz<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4570062\/russia-iran-welcome-discussions-china-trump-xi-summit\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Russia and Iran welcome discussions with China after Trump-Xi summit<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4569939\/xi-says-trump-visit-strengthened-trust\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Xi says Trump\u2019s \u2018historic and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/xi-says-trumps-historic-and-landmark-visit-strengthened-trust-in-each-other\/\" title=\"Xi says ...s \u2018historic and landmark... visit strengthened \u2018trust in each other...\">landmark\u2019 visit strengthened \u2018trust<\/a> in each other\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The crisis began last week, when two Ukrainian drones, presumably intended for Russia, crossed into Latvian airspace. One hit an empty fuel storage tank, while another hit the ground harmlessly. No casualties were reported.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Despite the lack of casualties, the incident sparked an uproar, as the government\u2019s response was considered delayed and inadequate. The drones impacted near the city of Rezekne, located nearly 40 miles from the Russian border, yet they went undetected.<\/p>\n<p>Silina cast blame on Defense Minister Andris Spruds and fired him on Sunday. Justifying the decision, she said the drone incursion \u201cdemonstrated that the political leadership of the defense sector failed to fulfill its promise of safe skies over our country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Spruds was a member of the allied Progressives party, pushing them to withdraw from the governing coalition, stripping them of a majority, and collapsing the government.<\/p>\n<p>Silina resigned on Thursday, firing departing shots at the Progressives, saying, \u201cpolitical envy and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brian-mast-predicts-joe-bidens-100b-aid-request-is-dead-on-arrival\/\" title=\"Brian Mast predicts that Joe Biden&#039;s 0B aid request will be rejected.\">narrow party interests<\/a> have taken precedence over responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have always acted responsibly toward my coalition partners. However, my responsibility to society is even greater. I led this government because people needed stability. I held together very different political forces because my task was to ensure that the country moved forward,\u201d she said, adding that she was \u201cstepping down, but I am not giving up. And I am not leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4563391\/finland-president-stubb-russia-ukraine-talks\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4563391\">HAWKISH FINNISH PRESIDENT SAYS IT\u2019S \u2018TIME TO START TALKING TO RUSSIA\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>General elections were previously scheduled for October. The collapse of the government is unlikely to significantly affect Latvia\u2019s foreign policy, as all mainstream parties are some variant of pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia.<\/p>\n<p>The Latvia First party has recently <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/gemius.com\/lv\/blogs\/lpv-izvirzijusies-politisko-partiju-lideros-premjera-kandidaturai-izvele-par-labu-sleseram\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/gemius.com\/lv\/blogs\/lpv-izvirzijusies-politisko-partiju-lideros-premjera-kandidaturai-izvele-par-labu-sleseram\/\">surged in the polls<\/a>, a right<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/covid-coup-french-national-assembly-rejects-macrons-vaccine-passport-in-shock-vote\/\" title=\"COVID Coup: French National Assembly Rejects Macron&#039;s Vaccine Passport in Shock Vote\">-wing populist party<\/a> that has endorsed President Donald Trump\u2019s peace proposal and adopted a more pragmatic position toward the Russia-Ukraine war. Though the party is now first in polling, it still doesn\u2019t breach 20% of the vote, so it remains to be seen if it will be able to join the next government or be locked out by a firewall, as has happened elsewhere in Europe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Latvia\u2019s government collapsed after two stray Ukrainian drones crashed, prompting PM Evika Silina to resign<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2603207,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26134326340065.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[46187,79747,50611,40137,79748],"class_list":["post-2603206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-government-collapse","tag-latvia","tag-national-security-2","tag-political-crisis","tag-ukrainian-drones"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26134326340065.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2603206"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2603210,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603206\/revisions\/2603210"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2603207"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2603206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2603206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2603206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}