Baltic states seek €500 million from EU to strengthen counter-drone defenses

Wednesday 23 September 2026 - 09:47

By: Azzat Manal

Baltic states seek €500 million from EU to strengthen counter-drone defenses

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have reportedly asked the European Union for €500 million in additional funding to strengthen their ability to detect and counter drone threats across the Baltic region.

According to Finland’s Iltalehti, the defence ministers of the three Baltic states sent a confidential letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on September 21, requesting urgent financial support for counter-drone capabilities. The letter has not been made public, and it remains unclear whether von der Leyen has formally responded to the request.

The reported request comes amid growing concern among the Baltic countries over repeated incidents involving unmanned aerial vehicles entering their airspace. In March, the defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said several foreign drones had crossed NATO airspace in the region and struck territory in the Baltic states, underlining the need for stronger multilayered air-defence systems.

The three countries have also been working more closely on drone-related security. In April, their governments agreed to deepen cooperation on drone issues and the protection of critical infrastructure, reflecting the growing importance of unmanned systems in the region’s security planning.

The European Union has already identified counter-drone capabilities as a strategic defence priority. In July, the European Commission proposed joint defence projects covering drones and counter-drone systems, air and missile defence, space security and the protection of the EU’s eastern flank. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and reduce capability gaps.

Brussels has also launched a broader plan to address the growing security risks associated with drones, including hostile overflights, airspace violations and potential threats to critical infrastructure. The European Commission has called for closer cooperation, faster technological development and stronger industrial capacity across the bloc.

The Baltic countries are already benefiting from EU defence financing mechanisms. In January, the European Commission approved the next stage of defence investment plans for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania under the Security Action for Europe initiative, alongside several other member states. Latvia later received more than €500 million in initial SAFE funding in August, intended to accelerate defence investments and modernize its military capabilities.

The latest funding request illustrates the wider security challenges facing Europe’s eastern flank, where drone incidents have become an increasingly important element of defence planning. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are NATO members and have consistently linked stronger regional air defence with the broader security of the alliance’s eastern territories.

The reported €500 million request therefore comes as the EU seeks to develop common European capabilities while member states increase national and regional investments in air defence, surveillance and counter-drone technology.