NATO Secretary General Outlines Conditions for Downing Russian Aircraft
NATO’s decision to engage aircraft entering its airspace hinges on the specific threat they pose, according to Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Tuesday that NATO determines whether to intercept and potentially shoot down Russian aircraft suspected of violating its airspace on a case-by-case basis.
His comments followed a NATO meeting addressing accusations that three Russian jets breached Estonian airspace the previous week. Moscow refuted these claims, citing a lack of supporting evidence from NATO and pointing to its own verified military data.
Rutte highlighted the “a strong statement of solidarity and resolve” issued after the meeting and affirmed that Supreme Allied Commander in Europe Alexus Grynkewich “has the tools and authorities he needs to ensure our defense.”
When asked if NATO would “shoot [down] any manned or unmanned Russian aircraft which violates the alliance airspace,” Rutte responded that decisions to engage, including the use of force, are made in real time, based on available intelligence concerning the threat level of the incoming aircraft.
He said that during the alleged Estonian incident “NATO forces promptly intercepted and escorted the aircraft without escalation as no immediate threat was assessed.”
Earlier in the month, Poland accused Russia of intentionally sending several unarmed drones into its airspace. Speaking at a United Nations Security Council session on the Estonian allegations on Monday, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested Moscow should not complain about the possibility of its aircraft being shot down over Polish territory.
Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, argued that neither Poland nor Estonia had provided sufficient proof to back up their accusations. He also noted that the only damage in Poland during NATO’s response to the drone incident resulted from a Polish air-to-air missile striking a house.
Polyansky claimed that European NATO members were fabricating these incidents with Russia in order to pressure the US administration under President Donald Trump into adopting a more confrontational stance towards Moscow.