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NATO Considers Letting Pilots Fire on Russian Aircraft After Airspace Violations
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NATO allies are discussing the possibility of a stronger response to Russia’s ongoing provocations, including potentially allowing pilots to open fire on Russian aircraft and expanding military exercises along the Alliance’s eastern border, the Financial Times (FT) reported on October 8, citing four NATO officials.
According to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the talks aim to increase the cost of Moscow’s hybrid warfare and establish clearer countermeasures in response to repeated airspace violations by Russian drones and aircraft.
One of the proposals reportedly under consideration is to conduct large-scale military drills near the Russian border, particularly in less fortified regions, to signal NATO’s readiness to respond quickly to any threats.
Allies are also discussing revisions to the rules of engagement on the eastern flank. In some member states, pilots must have visual confirmation of a threat before firing, while others allow engagement based on radar data or assessments of a target’s direction and speed. The lack of consistency in these protocols poses coordination risks during potential crises, prompting calls for a more unified approach to combat readiness.
Sources told the FT that member states are divided: some capitals advocate for a more assertive response, while others urge caution to avoid the risk of direct confrontation with a nuclear-armed state.
Officials also noted that NATO is not obligated to publicly announce any potential policy changes, leaving the degree of transparency under discussion.
The report follows recent tensions in Moscow, where British, French, and German ambassadors reportedly raised concerns over the incursion of three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets into Estonian airspace. Western diplomats believe the incident was a deliberate move authorized by Russian military command.
During those talks, a Russian diplomat claimed the airspace violations were a response to Ukrainian strikes in Crimea, which Moscow insists would not have been possible without NATO support. Kremlin officials reportedly suggested that Russia already considers itself in confrontation with Western countries.
European representatives noted that their Russian counterparts took detailed notes during the meeting, implying that the information would likely be reported directly to senior leadership in Moscow.
Earlier, It was reported that the European Parliament has passed a resolution demanding stronger collective EU responses to Russian violations of the EU’s airspace and related hybrid warfare threats—explicitly including the right to shoot down airborne intruders deemed hostile.
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