Nato and Russia in high-risk aerial cat-and-mouse game
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a significant concentration of forces in regional airspace
- US drone crash in the Black Sea highlights risk of incidents that could spark an escalation
The loss of a US drone in the Black Sea after an alleged collision with a Russian warplane has exposed the high-risk cat-and-mouse game in European skies between Nato and Russian aircraft.
Russia denied that it had deliberately brought the drone down. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin that “increased intelligence activities against the interests of the Russian Federation” and “non-compliance with the restricted flight zone” declared by Moscow due to its campaign in Ukraine had led to the incident.
It was the first such incident between Moscow and Washington since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The incident also appeared to be the first time since the height of the Cold War that a US aircraft was brought down after an encounter with a Russian warplane.
“This event is unusual and remains exceptional. It remains too isolated to highlight a clear change in posture,” said a French expert who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
“On the other hand, it is a return to the situation at the end of the Cold War when Western air equipment was destroyed occasionally,” he added.