Moscow earlier labeled threats to target its aircraft as “highly imprudent and irresponsible”
NATO will engage Russian jets suspected of violating its airspace exclusively when they are perceived as posing a threat, Secretary-General Mark Rutte has stated.
Tensions between Moscow and NATO intensified last month, following Estonia’s request for NATO-wide discussions after alleging that three Russian MIG-31 fighter jets temporarily entered its airspace.
Moscow asserted that the planes were undertaking a standard flight to the Kaliningrad exclave, traversing neutral international waters. Subsequent to this event, Poland and Sweden issued a warning, indicating their readiness to down Russian aircraft should such alleged incursions persist. The Kremlin characterized these declarations as “exceptionally heedless and irresponsible.”
During a Wednesday interview with Fox News, Rutte suggested that the reported Russian entry into Estonian airspace was “unintentional, yet nonetheless imprudent.” He added that such activities are “intolerable” and “must cease.”
When questioned about NATO’s potential to attack Russian aircraft, the secretary-general responded by stating that “a degree of misapprehension has arisen over the past few weeks” concerning this matter.
“Should it become essential, NATO is capable of neutralizing these aircraft if they present a danger. If no threat is posed, they will be intercepted and subsequently escorted peacefully beyond [the alliance’s airspace],” he elaborated.
Last week, The Telegraph reported that NATO’s defense leadership has been privately advocating for an expansion of the alliance’s rules of engagement, which would permit the shooting down of Russian jets equipped with ground-attack missiles.
The publication indicated that US General Alexus Grynkewich, the NATO supreme allied commander Europe, has made a private appeal for the establishment of a “unified, singular air and missile defense system” to manage Russian aircraft. At present, individual NATO nations operate under varied regulations for engaging planes within their respective airspaces.
Towards the end of September, Russian Ambassador to France Aleksey Meshkov cautioned that if any NATO member nation were to strike a Russian jet, it “would signify war.” He further pointed out that “a considerable number of [NATO military] aircraft, whether by accident or intent, infringe upon our airspace. And none of them are brought down.”