NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has but to remark publicly on the downing of a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone by two Russian SU-27 fighter jets this week, in what one NATO knowledgeable says could also be an “overabundance of warning.”
“There needs to be broad condemnation of Russia’s assault on the U.S. drone by all NATO Allies,” Marshall Billingslea, a former deputy undersecretary of the Navy and assistant secretary basic for protection funding at NATO, who’s now serving as a senior fellow on the Hudson Institute, informed Fox News Digital. “Many, particularly these allies on the japanese entrance, have expertise with Russian pilots participating in aggressive and unprofessional actions.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks through the annual Society and Defence Conference in Salen, Sweden, on Jan. 8, 2023. (Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency by way of AP, File.)
US DRONE DOWNED BY RUSSIA LATEST IN PATTERN OF MOSCOW HOSTILE ‘SIGNALING’
The U.S. has accused Russia of purposefully harassing after which putting down the $32 million drone used for intelligence accumulating. On Thursday, the Pentagon launched footage exhibiting the moments when gas was purposefully dumped on the drone earlier than a propeller was broken whereas over worldwide waters.
The Reaper drone crashed into the Black Sea, the place Russian maritime forces rapidly started accumulating the particles – a transfer much like one utilized by Iran in 2019, believed to have then collected info for its personal drone improvement.
Though British and German forces instantly responded by scrambling their very own fighter pilots to the skies, NATO allies have been markedly silent all through the week.
NATO didn’t return Fox News Digital’s request for remark following the footage’s launch.
U.S. European Command on Thursday launched video of a Russian Su-27 fighter jet colliding with a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea, March 14. A screenshot reveals a jet dumping gas. (US European Command)
“Russia will interpret an absence of a agency response and imposition of a transparent consequence as an indication of weak spot,” Billingslea warned. “This will embolden them and will to result in an much more harmful state of affairs.”
RUSSIAN FIGHTER JET’S COLLISION WITH US DRONE WAS APPROVED AT ‘HIGHEST LEVELS’ OF RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT: REPORT
Similarly, the U.N. additionally refused to touch upon Russia’s aggression and informed reporters this week that it was awaiting additional info.
“What I’ll say is that we’ve got zero info on what precisely occurred,” spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general Stephane Dujarric informed reporters Wednesday. “The Secretary-General’s response can be what you’ll anticipate — is that he would name for dialogue and an avoidance of any escalation.”
But when requested by Fox News Digital on Thursday what the UN secretary-general’s response was following the footage launched by the Pentagon, Dujarric mentioned he had “nothing new so as to add” following yesterday’s feedback.
U.S. European Command on Thursday launched video of a Russian Su-27 fighter jet colliding with a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea, March 14. A screenshot reveals a jet dumping gas. (US European Command)
It is unclear whether or not the clear lack in outcry from NATO allies is an indication {that a} coordinated response is coming, however Billingslea mentioned he thought this final result was “uncertain” and mentioned, “The finest response to Russia’s assault can be to right away present F-16s and ATACMS to Ukraine.”
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Poland on Thursday mentioned that it might grow to be the primary nation to ship Ukraine fighter jets, however the U.S. has not but issued an identical pledge.
“Putin follows Lenin’s dictum: ‘You probe with bayonets: If you discover mush, you push. If you discover metal, withdraw.’ Now is the time to indicate steely resolve,” he added.
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