Chairman of the Estonian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson stated that the Latvian-Belarusian border is currently the most tense section among the Baltic states. According to him, the pressure from migrants and hybrid threats in the region is increasing.
Representatives of the parliaments of the Baltic states visited the eastern border of Latvia this week, where they discussed security issues, illegal migration, and threats related to drones.
After the visit, the chairman of the Estonian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Marko Mihkelson, stated that the border between Latvia and Belarus is currently the "most unsettled place" among the Baltic states.
"Just in the first half of today, more than 50 illegal migrants attempted to cross from Belarus into Latvia but were repelled by border guards," the politician wrote on social media.
The meeting of the chairpersons of the parliamentary foreign affairs committees took place in Latgale. The delegations visited the Paternieki border crossing as well as the Druja border post on the banks of the Daugava River, near the borders of Russia and Belarus.
According to Mihkelson, since August 2021, more than 44,000 attempts at illegal crossings have been prevented at the Latvian border.
The Estonian MP described the situation as part of a joint hybrid operation by Russia and Belarus, aimed at creating constant pressure on the external border of the European Union.
For Latvia, this issue remains particularly sensitive: in recent years, the eastern border has regularly become a zone of heightened tension—both due to migration and incidents involving drones.
Mihkelson also stated that the border infrastructure of Latvia is currently considered the most vulnerable among the Baltic states. Latvian border guards are being assisted by personnel from Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland.
During the meeting, recent cases of drones appearing in the airspace of the Baltic states were also discussed. According to the Estonian politician, during the delegation's visit to Latgale, NATO fighter jets were again deployed in the region, and temporary restrictions were imposed in Latvia due to a potential drone threat.
Later, the information about the potential threat was not confirmed.
In recent months, the issue of security at the eastern border has increasingly come to the forefront of Latvian politics—especially after several incidents involving drones that triggered a serious political crisis in the country.
This year's annual meeting of the parliamentary committees of the Baltic states focused on regional security issues and the resilience of society to hybrid threats.
