Sprūds: PM's claim that anti-drone charges were 'forgotten' is disinformation
Former defence minister Andris Sprūds has rejected Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' claim that necessary charges for anti-drone systems were forgotten, calling it disinformation.
Saeima member and former defence minister Andris Sprūds has stated that Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' remarks claiming that Latvia's previously purchased anti-drone systems were left without necessary charges because someone "forgot" to buy them do not reflect the truth.
Speaking to the LETA news agency, Sprūds described the claim as disinformation. Having previously headed the Ministry of Defence himself, he speaks with knowledge of decisions made during that period regarding weapons procurement.
Prime Minister Kulbergs had earlier suggested that the anti-drone systems available to the state lack the necessary charges, implying their purchase was never planned or carried out. The statement has triggered a public dispute over how defence-sector procurement was planned and executed in previous years.
The disagreement reflects a broader ongoing discussion in Latvia about the state's readiness for air and anti-drone defence, a topic that has grown more prominent amid the regional security situation. The source text does not provide specific figures or further details about the procurement in question or its costs.
