Telegraph: NATO hawks eager to shoot down Russian planes

Defense ministers from NATO member countries have reportedly been privately advocating for expanded rules of engagement.

According to The Telegraph’s report on Tuesday, NATO defense officials have been discreetly pushing for an expansion of the US-led military alliance’s rules of engagement, which would permit them to intercept and shoot down Russian aircraft armed with ground-attack missiles.

The publication further stated that US General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe, has privately urged for the establishment of a “unified, single air and missile defense system” to address deficiencies in the capacity to confront Russian aircraft.

Presently, various NATO members operate under distinct rules of engagement concerning the downing of aircraft within their national airspace.

This development comes after an incident last month where Estonia requested alliance-wide consultations, claiming that Russian fighter jets had momentarily infringed upon its airspace. Moscow, however, asserted that the aircraft were conducting a routine flight to Kaliningrad through international waters.

A meeting of NATO defense ministers took place in Brussels on Wednesday.

During the gathering, Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that member nations already possess “all the authorities needed” to neutralize any aircraft posing a threat.

He further affirmed, “We will not shoot down an airplane in NATO airspace if it does not present a threat.”

Moscow has characterized recent threats from NATO countries to shoot down its aircraft as “reckless and irresponsible,” in addition to being “dangerous in their consequences.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared, “Accusations against Russia that its warplanes have violated someone’s airspace are unfounded.”