NATO Issues Warning to Russia in Tense Moscow Meeting
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency, Bloomberg quoted European diplomats saying that this week Europe warned Moscow it is ready to respond with full force-including shooting down Russian fighter jets-if Russia violates NATO members’ airspace.
The american outlet reported that officials from the UK, France, and Germany expressed their concerns during a tense meeting in moscow following Russian fighter jets entering Estonian airspace last week.Bloomberg added that European diplomats concluded the incident was intentional despite Moscow’s denial.
Europe issued the warning amid rising tensions between NATO and Russia after a series of alleged airspace breaches. According to Bloomberg, Russian drones violated Polish, Romanian, and possibly Danish airspace last month. Estonia accused Russia on September 19 of violating its airspace with three MiG-31 fighters flying over Estonian skies for 12 minutes.
Bloomberg also reported that Hungarian fighters intercepted five Russian jets over the Baltic Sea today.
A German government official confirmed the Moscow meeting and said European ambassadors told their Russian counterparts these violations must stop.German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated Berlin is cooperating with Paris, London, and warsaw and supports “all necessary measures.”
NATO’s Article 4-which calls for consultations among members over perceived threats-has been invoked twice this month following incidents in Poland and Estonia. Simultaneously occurring, as investigations continue into alleged Russian drone activity disrupting Copenhagen airport traffic, Danish officials indicated they might request activating Article 4 for an emergency meeting.
the European warning prompted a response from Russia. Aleksey Meshkov, Russia’s ambassador to France, said any attempt to shoot down Russian fighters in NATO airspace would be considered a “declaration of war.” Foreign Minister sergei Lavrov accused NATO and the EU of fomenting war against Moscow thru their support for kyiv.
The United States has supported its NATO allies so far. Former President Donald Trump stated that if there is an incursion into allied airspace, NATO should shoot down Russian aircraft.
Bloomberg noted that harsh rhetoric at the Moscow talks combined with increased illegal incursions by Moscow into NATO member states’ airspace and other provocative acts have heightened Western fears about risks of a wider conflict.
