NATO divided on shooting down Russian aircraft - Bloomberg
Photo: NATO cannot decide to use aviation for its intended purpose (Getty Images)
A rift is growing within NATO over how to respond to Russia’s airspace violations. Some countries insist on tough measures, while others warn of the danger of escalation, Bloomberg reports.
Disagreements within alliance
On September 23, Germany warned of the risks of shooting down Russian aircraft. Almost simultaneously, US President Donald Trump said he was ready to support a tougher approach, which aligns with the positions of Poland and the Baltic states.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed the day before that there is “no room for discussion” on the policy and warned of readiness to open fire on threats in the sky.
Violations on NATO’s eastern flank
Estonia called for emergency NATO and UN Security Council meetings after three Russian fighter jets remained in its airspace for 12 minutes. Earlier, drones from Russia violated the borders of Poland and Romania.
Against this backdrop, pressure is mounting on the alliance to deliver a convincing response. Without a clear strategy, NATO risks losing its deterrence effect.
Germany opposes escalation
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned that NATO could fall into Putin’s “escalation trap.” “Slapdash demands to shoot something out of the sky or do some great show of strength help less than anything else right now. Level-headedness is not cowardice and not fear, but a responsibility towards your own country and towards peace in Europe,” Pistorius said in Berlin.
Meanwhile, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics stated that the alliance needs a “show of force.” Rinkevics believes that if Russia continues its violations, it must face return fire.
US: Conflicting signals
During a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York, Trump supported the possibility of shooting down Russian planes. “Yes, I do,” he told a journalist. But he later added that everything depends on the circumstances.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the other hand, clarified that NATO adheres to a policy of interception, not destruction, of aircraft unless they attack.
As previously reported, NATO members plan to spend over $1.5 trillion on defense in 2025.
Poland, for the first time, dared to shoot down Russian drones only after the massive attack on September 10. Of the 20 UAVs, NATO fighters shot down four.
