Minister Adris Spruds's decision followed a call for his resignation from Latvia's Prime Minister, Evika Silina, who stated on X that he had "lost (her) trust and that of the public".

Silina said anti-drone systems had not been deployed quickly enough to counter Thursday's incursion.

"The drone incident that occurred this week clearly demonstrated that the political leadership of the defense sector has failed to fulfill its promise of safe skies over our country," Silina wrote.

"That is an enormous responsibility that demands clear results," she added, emphasising the country's role as one of NATO's highest spenders in relative terms. Latvia allocates nearly five percent of its GDP to defence.

On Thursday, two drones crossed over the Russian border into Latvia. A fire broke out, but was quickly brought under control by firefighters, according to the national police.

Ukrainian foreign minister Andriy Sybiga said that the drones had flown into Latvia as a result of "Russian electronic warfare". Latvia and Lithuania called on NATO to strengthen its air defence.

Colonel Raivis Melnis is now set to take the position of defence minister, said Silina.

Several drones from Russia and Ukraine have crashed in the trio of former Soviet republics in the Baltics -- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -- since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

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