Military expert Alexander Perendzhiyev, an associate professor at the Department of Political Analysis at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, commented on Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’ statement that Riga and Kiev plan to build a drone production facility near the borders with Russia and Belarus.

Perendzhiyev believes Latvia is using such steps to provoke an escalation between Russia and NATO.

He described the project as an open threat to Russia and Belarus. In his view, it points to preparations for aggressive actions by NATO or by individual member states, among which he named Poland, the Baltic countries, Germany and possibly France.

In a comment to Ridus, Perendzhiyev argued that Moscow is being challenged to respond. He said Latvia is effectively testing whether Russia would strike the plant, while an attack could raise the question of invoking Article 5 of the NATO Charter on collective assistance to an attacked member state. He described Latvia’s approach as trolling Russia.

The expert did not rule out that the decision to build the facility may be linked to the results of the Brave Boar exercises, which ended in Poland on June 26. He recalled that French, Lithuanian and Polish troops took part in the drills.

Perendzhiyev also suggested that the planned plant may not remain an isolated case. In his assessment, similar drone production facilities could later appear in other Baltic states close to the Russian border.

He said the drones produced there could potentially be used to attack the Kaliningrad region.

Earlier, Kulbergs said Europe should not yet begin negotiations with Russia. The Latvian prime minister stressed the need to increase pressure on Moscow and urged European countries to focus not on finding compromises, but on strengthening Europe’s eastern borders.