Russia: Aviation
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking through the UN to respond to reports of Russian airspace violations over NATO member states.
Answered by Stephen Doughty
Recent incursions into Poland, Romania and Estonia were reckless violations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) airspace. NATO responded to the incidents immediately and decisively, shooting down drones over its airspace for the first time. This was combined with a strong political response at NATO - with two Article 4 discussions - as well as at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and UN. On 12 September, the UK condemned Russia's violations of NATO airspace at a UN Security Council session following the Poland incursions, noting that its actions violated the most basic principles of the UN Charter. Then on 22 September, following the air incursions into Estonia, the Foreign Secretary again underlined to the UN Security Council that Russia's actions are a threat to the values and principles that underpin the UN. We will continue working with our Allies at NATO, as well as through the OSCE and UN, to stress in the clearest terms that Russian recklessness is completely unacceptable, and that NATO is ready and able to defend its territory.
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