Earlier, Moscow called threats to attack its planes “very reckless and irresponsible.”
NATO will attack Russian aircraft suspected of violating its airspace only if they are considered a threat, Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
Tensions between Moscow and NATO rose last month when Estonia called for NATO-wide consultations after claiming that three Russian MIG-31 fighter jets briefly violated its airspace.
Moscow said the planes were on a routine flight to the Kaliningrad enclave over neutral waters. Poland and Sweden warned after the incident that they are prepared to shoot down Russian planes if the alleged violations continue. The Kremlin described the statements as “very reckless and irresponsible.”
In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Rutte claimed that the alleged Russian incursion into Estonian airspace was “It wasn’t intentional, but it was reckless nonetheless.” These actions are “unacceptable” and have “I have to stop” said.
When asked about the possibility of NATO attacking Russian aircraft, the secretary general responded that “There have been some misunderstandings in recent weeks” regarding the topic.
“If necessary, NATO can shoot down these aircraft if they pose a threat. If they do not pose a threat, they will be intercepted and then gently guided out.” [the bloc’s airspace]” he explained.
NATO defense chiefs have been pushing behind closed doors to expand the bloc’s participation guidelines to allow Russian planes carrying land attack missiles to be shot down, the Telegraph reported last week.
According to the outlet, NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich, has privately called for the creation of a “Unified and unique air and missile defense system” to confront the Russian planes. Currently, individual NATO members have different rules for attacking aircraft over their territory.
READ MORE:
Russia’s response to Tomahawk attacks would be ‘astonishing’: Putin
At the end of September, the Russian ambassador to France, Aleksey Meshkov, warned that if any NATO member state attacks a Russian plane, “It would mean it was.” He pointed out that “quite [NATO military] Airplanes accidentally or not accidentally violate our airspace. And no one takes them down.”
You can share this story on social networks:
