UNITED NATIONS — Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs warned on Wednesday that the deepening military partnership between Russia and Iran represents a rising security threat, telling Fox News Digital in an on‑camera interview that Iranian drone technology has enabled Moscow’s war in Ukraine while Latvia readies itself to join a U.S.–led initiative in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Rinkēvičs noted that Latvia, despite its modest population of about 1.84 million, remains a pivotal member of NATO’s eastern flank and has already decided to dispatch military specialists to support multinational operations in the Middle East, answering former President Donald Trump’s appeal for European assistance.
“Yes, I am concerned. We have already observed Iran providing substantial assistance to Russia, particularly at the outset of its invasion of Ukraine,” Rinkēvičs said when questioned about the expanding Moscow‑Tehran cooperation.
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“The first Iranian‑made or Iranian‑designed drones were employed by Russia. Now Moscow is upgrading them, developing entirely new systems, yet the underlying design remains Iranian.”
Earlier this week, Fox News Digital disclosed documents obtained from the Russian Foreign Ministry outlining a 2024‑2026 roadmap for Russo‑Iranian cooperation spanning nuclear energy, finance, aviation, and infrastructure.
When asked whether Europe should increase its role in countering Iran’s military activities and heed Trump’s call for support, Rinkēvičs confirmed that Latvia has already taken concrete steps toward joining an international effort in the Strait of Hormuz.
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Soldiers walk along a road near a training range in Pabrade, north of Vilnius, Lithuania, on Thursday, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
“We have already made a parliamentary decision to send our EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) diver specialists to the Strait of Hormuz or the Middle East to assist the United States and the coalition being assembled,” he said.
Rinkēvičs said he hopes Latvia’s military involvement will eventually pave the way for a political solution and the restoration of global energy supplies, while expressing doubt about the prospects for meaningful diplomacy with Tehran and Moscow. “Engaging with Iran is extremely difficult, and dealing with Russia is equally challenging,” he added.
Regarding Europe’s security outlook, Rinkēvičs stated that Latvia currently sees no sign of an imminent Russian military invasion, despite mounting concerns about Moscow’s intentions toward NATO’s eastern flank.
“If Russia were capable of attacking us, it would have already done so,” he remarked, adding “The Russian armed forces are not what they were in 2022. Recall their failed attempt to seize Kyiv in three days; they are still struggling to capture minor Ukrainian territories four and a half years after the full‑scale invasion.”
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Iran conducts joint naval exercises with Russia in the Strait of Hormuz following the deployment of U.S. surveillance drones. (Iranian Army/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
He explained that the immediate danger to Latvia stems more from sabotage, cyberattacks, and information operations, which he said are intensifying, noting that European leaders must prepare their publics for potential threats without inciting unnecessary alarm.
Rinkēvičs also urged NATO to quicken its adaptation to the evolving character of warfare, especially the expanding use of drones and missile systems.
While conventional assets such as tanks and armored personnel carriers remain vital, he pointed out that the war in Ukraine has shown how rapidly emerging technologies are reshaping the battlefield.
The president welcomed the rise in NATO defense spending, crediting Trump’s advocacy for greater investment, but cautioned that extra funding alone would not solve the alliance’s readiness shortcomings.
“Having money does not guarantee immediate procurement; even when orders are placed, delivery can be delayed,” he said.
U.S. Army soldiers march during a military parade on Armed Forces Day in Vilnius, commemorating the restoration of Lithuania’s armed forces on November 23, 1918. This year’s parade will take place on November 25, drawing roughly 1,400 participants and 100 pieces of military equipment from Lithuanian forces and NATO allies. (Yauhen Yerchak/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Rinkēvičs said he intends to meet with U.S. defense firms during his American visit, noting, “When it comes to U.S. support, let me say that the United States already does an outstanding job. We have American troops stationed, though not in large numbers, at our airbase in Lielvārde, and I believe their presence is sufficient. U.S. engagement in the Baltics remains crucial, and we are coordinating with our American partners on future rotations.”
Efrat (Effie) Lachter is a reporter for Fox News Digital with more than 15 years of experience covering conflict, global affairs, human rights and political accountability. She has directed and produced more than 200 documentary segments across more than 40 countries, documenting conflicts, humanitarian crises, corruption, human trafficking, gender-based violence and the human stories behind major world events.
Lachter’s reporting has taken her into conflict zones and crisis areas across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa. Her work has included uncovering human trafficking networks, revealing an ISIS underground torture prison in Syria, documenting the war in Ukraine and interviewing senior political figures and world leaders. She was also among the Western journalists who entered Russia after the war began to bring testimonies from Putin’s opposition. Lachter is the recipient of the 2022 Peres Center for Peace Award and was a 2023–2024 Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellow at the University of Michigan. She also won two Rockower Awards for Excellence in Reporting. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and a master’s degree in political science.