TALLINN, Estonia (Chatnewstv.com) — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday condemned Russia’s latest violation of alliance airspace, saying the incident over Estonia was either deliberate or the result of “blatant incompetence.”
“We are a defensive alliance, yes, but we are not naïve,” Rutte told reporters.
“So we see what is happening and whether it is intentional or not. If it is not intentional, then it is blatantly incompetent. And of course, even if it is incompetence, we still have to defend ourselves.”
Rutte said NATO fighter jets scrambled after Russian MiG aircraft briefly entered Estonian airspace, but that shooting them down was not necessary.
“Still, if required, NATO will do what is needed,” the secretary general warned.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the alliance following Moscow’s repeated military provocations near NATO borders.
By Gabriel Ani
