Foreign leader on Putin’s doorstep sounds alarm over Iran fueling Moscow’s war machine

UNITED NATIONS — Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs warned Wednesday that military cooperation between Russia and Iran poses a growing security concern, telling Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview that Iranian drone technology has helped Moscow wage war in Ukraine as Latvia prepares to contribute to a U.S.-led effort in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Rinkēvičs said Latvia, a country of approximately 1.84 million and still a core member of NATO’s eastern flank, has already made the political decision to send military specialists to support international operations in the Middle East in response to President Donald Trump’s request for European assistance.

“Yes, I am concerned. Actually, we have already seen Iran helping Russia a lot, especially at the very beginning of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” Rinkēvičs said when asked about the growing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

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“The first drones Iranian made, or Iranian-designed drones, were used by Russia. Now Russians are actually modernizing them, making completely new technologies. But, actually, the design is still Iranian.”

Earlier this week, Fox News Digital revealed documents obtained from the Russian Foreign Ministry detailing a roadmap between Russia and Iran for cooperation between 2024-2026 in multiple fields, including nuclear, finance and aviation, as well as infrastructure.

Asked whether Europe should take a more active role in countering Iran’s military activities and respond to Trump’s call for support, Rinkēvičs confirmed that Latvia has already taken steps toward joining an international effort in the Strait of Hormuz.

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“From our side, we have already made a parliamentary decision. That our EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) diver specialists could be sent to the Strait of Hormuz or to the Middle East to help out the United States, the coalition that is being formed,” he said.

Rinkēvičs said Latvia hopes military activities will give way to a political solution and the restoration of global energy supplies, while expressing skepticism about the prospects for negotiations with Tehran and Moscow. 

“It’s very, very difficult to have diplomacy with Iran. It’s very difficult with Russia,” he said.

Turning to the security situation in Europe, Rinkēvičs said Latvia does not see evidence of an imminent Russian military invasion despite growing concerns about Moscow’s intentions toward NATO’s eastern flank.

“If Russia were able to attack us … that would have happened already,” he said. “The Russian military is not the same as it used to be back in 2022. Remember they tried to take Kyiv in three days. They are still trying to take some certain small pieces of Ukrainian territory 4½ years after the full-fledged.”

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Explaining the immediate threat to Latvia comes instead from sabotage, cyberattacks and information campaigns, which he described as intensifying, adding that European leaders face the difficult task of preparing their populations for potential threats without creating unnecessary panic.

Rinkēvičs also warned that NATO must accelerate its adaptation to the rapidly changing nature of warfare, particularly the growing role of drones and missile technology.

While traditional military equipment, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, remains essential, the president said the war in Ukraine has demonstrated how quickly new technologies are transforming the battlefield.

The president welcomed increased NATO defense spending, crediting Trump’s push for greater investment, but cautioned that additional funding alone would not resolve the alliance’s military readiness challenges.

“You have money, but not always you can buy the stuff immediately, or at least you can order things. And they are delivered soon enough,” he said.

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Rinkēvičs said he plans to meet with U.S. defense companies during his visit to the U.S., saying, “When it comes to the U.S. support, let me just say that the United States does an amazing job already. We do have U.S. troops, not big numbers, but I think sufficient numbers are now stationed in our airbase in Lielvārde.

“U.S. presence in the Baltics is very important, and we are working with our U.S. partners about further rotations.”