RIGA, Dec 2 (LETA) - The Military Council chaired by President Edgars Rinkevics is unanimous on the need to use the infrastructure capabilities of Lielvarde airfield effectively, the president's adviser Martins Dregeris told LETA.

The president on Monday chaired a meeting of the Military Council was held at the National Armed Forces (NAF) Air Base Lielvarde. The Military Council also met with the heads of the municipalities situated on Latvia's eastern borders.

The discussions of the Military Council focused on the strengthening of air defense capabilities, their deployment in Latvia's eastern border area, the progress made and to be made in improving the algorithms in line with the lessons learned after the crash of a Russian military UAV on Latvian soil on September 7.

The president and the Military Council agreed on the necessity to use the capabilities of the Lielvarde airfield infrastructure effectively by encouraging the presence of allied fighter jets after Germany concluded its nine-month Baltic air policing mission from the Lielvarde airfield in November.

The president heard the armed forces' report on the implementation of the Baltic Defense Line, strengthening of the military infrastructure on the eastern border and anti-mobility measures.

"In order to deter the enemy, our priority is the readiness of defense forces and capabilities on the ground, in the air and at sea, as well as effective command and cooperation capabilities tested in exercises," Rinkevics stressed.

To follow up on the Military Council's meeting in Rezekne on April 19, the president had invited the heads of the municipalities of Augsdaugava, Aluksne, Balvi, Daugavpils, Gulbene, Kraslava, Livani, Ludza, and Preili, Rezekne Interim Administration and the Rezekne municipality to the meeting at the Lielvarde Air Force Base.

As reported, on September 7, an Russian Shahed drone, carrying explosives and targeting Ukraine, came from Belarus into Latvia and crashed in the Gaigalava parish of Rezekne Municipality. The National Armed Forces (NBS) monitored the situation, but no decision was taken either to shoot down the drone or to scramble the NATO fighters on duty in Latvia. When the drone went down, the warhead that had not exploded was deactivated.

Following the incident, the Ministry of Defense started consultations with allies that have recently experienced similar incidents.

An investigation was also launched into the incident. Later, the Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying that military experts have carried out an in-depth assessment of the incident and the armed forces' response, identifying the changes needed in the system.