Vilnius: Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina on Wednesday lost the backing of a key party in her ruling coalition after firing her defence minister in the wake of recent incursions by Ukrainian drones into Latvia's territory.
The Progressive party's departure from the centre-right government, in power since 2023, has deepened a political crisis in the Baltic nation, a European Union and NATO member that has been a staunch ally of Ukraine.
The coalition had been hanging by a thread since Silina called on Sunday for the resignation of Progressive defence minister Andris Spruds, saying Latvia's anti-drone systems had not been deployed quickly enough to counter the incursions.
On May 7, two Ukrainian strike drones crossed the Russian border and crashed into Latvian territory.
Ukraine accused Russia of using "electronic warfare" to divert the drones from their targets.
One hit a disused fuel storage site in the eastern region of Latgale, causing a fire that was quickly brought under control.
Without the Progressives' nine seats in the 100-member parliament, Silina's coalition currently has 41 seats, to 47 for the opposition.
Opposition lawmakers said they would introduce a vote of no-confidence in Silina's government.
"I will initiate consultations with my party's board and faction deputies, as well as our (remaining) coalition partner, regarding further action," Silina posted on X.
Earlier, the Progressives asked Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics to begin talks on a future coalition.
The president said he would meet party leaders on Friday.
After forcing the defence minister's resignation, Silina had nominated an army colonel to replace him, but the Progressives rejected the move, she said.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, multiple drones from both countries have crashed in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday his country would send experts to Latvia to help it protect its airspace, after meeting his counterpart Rinkevics at a summit in Romania.
