The Times of London reported Thursday that the British Royal Air Force intercepted 50 Russian planes over Estonia in the past four months while it led NATO’s air policing mission on Russia’s border.
The skies in the Baltic region of Europe have become a potential flashpoint for a direct conflict between NATO and Russia as their aircraft have had frequent encounters, demonstrating the risks of NATO expansion up to the Russian border. British officials said there’s been a “significant” increase in Russian military flights in the area since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Hundreds of RAF pilots and personnel have spent months away from their families, working round the clock alongside our allies to keep Europe’s skies safe,” British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said. The RAF had been leading the NATO mission since March and has now handed it off to the Spanish Air Force.
“The UK’s successful leadership of NATO’s air-policing mission in Estonia, resulting in the interception of dozens of Russian aircraft by the RAF, sends a strong message to Putin that we stand united with our allies against any threat to our borders,” Wallace said.
Another potential flashpoint for a NATO-Russia conflict is in the Black Sea, where US and NATO aircraft frequently fly reconnaissance. In March, a US MQ-9 Reaper drone was downed after an encounter with Russian fighter jets. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg recently announced that the alliance plans to increase air patrols in the Black Sea.
There have also been close encounters between US and Russian aircraft over Syria, with both sides accusing the other of aggressive action. US officials claimed last week that two US drones were struck with flares dropped by Russian jets in separate incidents.
Sounds like a bunch of BS to me. The poodle barks and wags its tail, but no one is paying attention.
Nothing worse than being a broken down empire.
“Hundreds of RAF pilots and personnel have spent months away from their families…” Wait!! Lemme grab my world’s smallest violin and tissue. …Okay, now I’m ready. Go on. …”Risks, and threats?” …That’s it!? Is that all you got!? Dude, I’m trying to help, but do you expect me to work the “ruthless Russians” angle with that? (Sarcasm)
“Hundreds of RAF pilots and personnel have spent months away from their families, working round the clock alongside our allies to keep Europe’s skies safe.”
Yeah, because relentlessly pushing hostile forces up to Russia’s borders is such a good way to keep Europe safe.
“Hundreds of RAF pilots and personnel have spent months away from their families, working round the clock alongside our allies to keep Europe’s skies safe.”
Aw, the poor dears. I didn’t send them on any missions to Estonia, that’s for sure.
Golly….
The way the press reports things (and if relied on them) I’d have no idea Spain even has jets or that England not the US leads “NATO air policing on the Russia’s border”
And we were to believe a senile old man was in charge of this war instead of being partners with Brussels, the UK and that African colonialist France who has a coup that is reducing their gold extractions of Africa to contend with today and will likely send troops to stop it really soon
That’s is a clear warning that if things escalate, Russia will easily bomb them to Estonia age.
nice play on words.
During WW2,the Baltic states supported Germany-Putin’s father was badly injured fighting there.Putin has a bone to pick here,
The Baltic-3 still hold annual Nazi parades. According to the NATO playbook, this is a Good thing, and WW2 never happened.. Adolf would be so proud..