Latvia’s president warns that Europe is not up to date with drone and aerial warfare in Ukraine

Edgars Rinkēvičs: ‘It’s up to the United States government, it’s up to the company. We have some capacities in Europe, but let’s face it: Patriots are still one of the best, if not the best, to tackle this.’ Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Latvia’s president has warned that Europe is not keeping up with developments of drone and aerial warfare in Ukraine and that most countries in Nato could not repulse an attack by Russian missiles if the conflict expands.

The remarks came during a Guardian interview in Washington DC in which Edgars Rinkēvičs said that the technological developments in drone warfare in Ukraine are moving at “lightning speed” and that current efforts to prepare for an aerial war could be obsolete by the middle of next year.