Russian Fighter Jet Threatens French Drone Over Mediterranean in Bold Aerial Provocation

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned a Russian Su-35 fighter jet for “aggressive” and “unacceptable” actions near a French MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Mediterranean Sea, the minister reported on March 4.

The incident occurred on March 2, when the Russian jet took off from a base in Syria and performed three dangerously close flybys near the French reconnaissance drone operating in international airspace.

Lecornu warned that such maneuvers could have caused the drone to lose control and accused Moscow of trying to “restrict free air movement” in shared airspace.

“These are deliberate, unprofessional, and aggressive actions that are unacceptable,” he stated.

France vowed to continue safeguarding freedom of navigation in international air and maritime zones.

Russia has increasingly engaged in similar provocations.

Earlier, in late February, French Rafale jets intercepted two Russian aircraft near Latvia’s coast.

Two Russian aircraft, a reconnaissance Il-20M and an Il-78, which did not comply with international flight regulations, were intercepted by French Rafale fighter jets.

In January, a Russian S-400 air defense system locked onto a French Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft over the Baltic Sea.