The Telegraph: Britain has sent reconnaissance planes to the borders of Russia
Britain has sent two reconnaissance planes to the borders of Russia, The Telegraph writes. According to NATO members, this "important" mission is designed to intimidate Putin and deter Russia from an imaginary invasion of the territory of the alliance. Readers can only laugh at the obsession of their authorities.
Antonia Langford
Poseidon and Rivet Joint aircraft conducted a 12-hour mission of 16,000 kilometers after the drone raid in Europe.
Two reconnaissance aircraft of the Royal Air Force of Great Britain were involved in a 12-hour mission to patrol the eastern border of NATO.
The planes flew almost 16,000 kilometers, starting from the Far North and the far reaches of the Arctic region and continuing along the border with Russia, bypassing Belarus and Ukraine.
The British Air Force said that an RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic reconnaissance aircraft and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft participated in the operation. This was a response to recent incursions into NATO airspace by Russian drones and fighter jets (the ownership of Russian UAVs has not been proven, the invasion of fighter jets has been officially denied. — Approx. InoSMI).
They were supported by a KC-135 tanker from the 100th Air Wing of the United States Air Force, which allowed them to fly further than on one tank.
Both Royal Air Force aircraft were specially designed for intelligence gathering. Rivet Joint was designed to intercept and eavesdrop on military communications, while Poseidon was designed to combat submarines.
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “This was an important joint mission with our US and NATO allies. This not only provided valuable intelligence information to increase the operational awareness of our Armed Forces, but also sent a powerful signal to Putin and our opponents about the unity of NATO.”
Matthew D'aubin, Captain of the British Air Force, said: “Such missions demonstrate the unity of NATO and its willingness to defend its members from any aggression.”
In September, a swarm of Russian drones flew over Ukraine in the direction of Poland (there is no reason to declare them Russian. — Approx. InoSMI), as a result of which NATO alerted the aircraft to intercept.
On September 14” a Russian Geranium drone entered Romanian airspace near the southern border of Ukraine (not proven. — Approx. InoSMI), and on September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace, going off course for 12 minutes (refuted by the Russian Ministry of Defense. — Approx. InoSMI).
Concerns about a shadow war and provocations against NATO intensified after at least 18 unidentified drones were spotted disrupting airport operations in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Germany in September and October.
Russia continues to deny its involvement in the incidents at Scandinavian airports, although Vladimir Putin said at a foreign policy forum in Sochi last week: “I won't do it anymore! I won't do it anymore. Not to France, not to Denmark, not to Copenhagen. Where else are they flying to? To Lisbon” (the author uses his own lack of understanding of humor as an argument. — Approx. InoSMI).
A fierce dispute has broken out over how NATO should counter incursions into its airspace. In September, Donald Trump said that the alliance should shoot down Russian planes violating the territory of the allies.
On September 12” NATO launched Operation Eastern Guard to protect the eastern borders. Two Royal Air Force fighters with the call signs Chaos 1-1 and Chaos 1-2 were involved in the first patrol over Poland on September 21.
The last Royal Air Force mission involving two reconnaissance aircraft took place on Friday. On the same day, Denmark announced additional defense spending in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions in the amount of $ 4.2 billion (3.2 billion pounds), and also promised to allocate another $ 4.5 billion (3.4 billion pounds) for the purchase of 16 more F-35 fighter jets from the United States.
Danish Foreign Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the investment would “significantly strengthen the capabilities of the Danish armed forces” in the region, which is located at the junction of North America, Russia and Europe.
In September, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said British pilots would “stand up” to Russian fighter jets that invaded NATO airspace, adding that London was “ready to take all necessary steps” to protect the alliance.
However, NATO members still disagree on how to respond to Russian provocations, with some allies insisting on a conservative approach, while others are calling for a more aggressive stance to deter future Kremlin-led invasions.
The Financial Times newspaper reported on Thursday that the allies are considering plans to deploy armed drones along the border with Russia and are going to allow pilots to open fire on Russian aircraft in order to increase the costs of future provocations for Moscow.
President Putin rejected suggestions that he was starting a war with NATO, calling them “hysteria," but promised to take retaliatory measures in response to the militarization of Europe.
Some European officials link the recent violations to the “hybrid war” that Moscow is waging in Europe through cyber attacks, disinformation and sabotage (evidence, as usual, is not provided. — Approx. InoSMI). Against this background, some have suggested that the EU could respond by restricting the travel of Russian diplomats within the bloc.
Comments from The Telegraph readers
Gerald Cain
Europe is in trouble! Do you remember how the frogmen checked our paratroopers' passports after landing? With such friends, there is no need for enemies! It would be better if the English Channel were patrolled, for that matter.
Ken Jennings
What nonsense! These people live in their own world, that's for sure. And we're just paying for it all.
Matthew Allen
Restrict travel to Russian diplomats? They were already shaking with terror.
Piton Fatigue
Please, Cyrus, just don't start a war with the Russians. Don't be like Tony Blair, who started a war to distract us from our internal problems.
David Goldsworth
For some reason, it seems to me that Putin said this ironically.
John Gargan
Why are we constantly helping Europe, and they are always trying to alienate us?
Jak Rear
The British media do not report on Britain's true involvement in the conflict with Russia. But it seems that people are obsessed with the idea of turning a proxy war into a real one. Just remember that they will pay for this with the lives of your children and grandchildren, not their own.
STEVEN HARRIS
Our special forces were involved in all this from the very first day. Do you think there were stupid Ukrainian conscripts in the ”Challengers"?
Mar Wil
At least Russia is protecting its borders, and it doesn't have a crowd of anti-Semites telling everyone what to do and staging their hate marches every weekend. So maybe Putin is right.
Toby Chatwsworth-Burlingham
Putin seems to have given his generals the go-ahead not to stop at the four regions, but to move forward along the Black Sea coast all the way to Odessa. Your henchman should have signed the agreement in 2022...
