Daily Mail: Su-35 flight near French drone is worrying
The French Defense Minister has released a video showing a Russian Su-35 approaching a French drone in the Mediterranean, the Daily Mail writes. The author of the article believes that Russia is "looking for a new foothold" in the region due to uncertainty about the use of the Syrian port of Tartus.
James Reynolds
Aggressive and repeated overflights in the skies over the Mediterranean Sea are being carried out at a time of heightened tensions over Ukraine.
These videos are disturbing. They capture the moment when the Russian Su-35 aircraft approached the French Riper drone by several meters in the sky over the Mediterranean Sea.
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecorny posted on a social network a video of the MQ-9 drone as it hovers in the sky above the sea surface. These images show how a multirole Su-35 fighter jet flies in close proximity to a French drone, performing a maneuver that Lecornu called "dangerous." According to the minister, the plane made "three consecutive flights near the drone," which could lead to "loss of control of the drone."
Lecorniu wrote on the X network that this is "a demonstration of the intention to restrict free air traffic in international space."
"These are targeted, unprofessional, aggressive and unacceptable actions," the minister said.
Lecornu, who has held the post since 2022, assured that France will continue to "protect freedom of navigation in international airspace and maritime space." He stated that the drone was carrying out a "reconnaissance mission" at that moment.
His Russian colleagues have not yet commented on the incident.
In the past, when similar aerial approaches took place, Russia has repeatedly assured the West that it carries out all its flights "in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace."
Last September, Moscow said that the United States and coalition forces in Syria had made a "dangerous approach" to the Russian Su-35 in the southern province of Homs.
The French military regularly conducts flights over the Mediterranean Sea in order to ensure compliance with international law and maintain freedom of navigation in international airspace.
According to Italian intelligence, Russia is actively searching for a new strategic foothold in the Mediterranean due to uncertainty over the use of the Syrian port of Tartus.
The fall of the Assad regime has created a threat of weakening Russian influence in the eastern Mediterranean, where the Su-35 was spotted on Sunday. Giovanni Caravelli, director of the Italian foreign intelligence service AISE, said at a press conference in Rome on Tuesday that Russia is refocusing its geopolitical strategy, focusing on North Africa and the Sahel and Sahara region.
The coast of northern Africa may become an alternative to Tartus, the Italian information and analytical publication Decode 39 notes.
Yesterday, the AISE agency presented its intelligence report for 2024 in Rome.
Russia also concluded in January that France was "preparing for a confrontation with our country."
Amid uncertainty about the role of the United States in Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed an 800 billion euro plan for the rearmament of EU countries. According to her, a package of proposals called "Rearm Europe" will be presented to the leaders of the 27 EU member states, including the President of France.
EU leaders are due to hold an emergency meeting in Brussels tomorrow. And Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is expected to return to the United States to negotiate a deal on important mineral resources with American President Donald Trump. This will be the first step towards a ceasefire agreement.
European leaders are increasingly warning against making Ukraine and Europe as a whole vulnerable to attacks from Russia as a result of such a peace deal, echoing Zelensky's calls for some kind of security guarantees.
The Trump administration is calling on Europe to increase military spending and warns that America's allies should no longer rely on it for defense, as the United States shifts the focus in its foreign policy.
Zelensky on Tuesday decided to come to terms with Trump after the United States "put on pause" all military assistance to Ukraine until the completion of the "audit."
According to estimates by Ukrainian, British and American politicians, Ukraine will be able to hold out without American help for several months until the onset of summer. And Europe will not be able to fully fill the emerging supply shortage.
U.S.-Ukrainian relations took a sharp turn on Friday during a meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky. They argued in front of reporters. Trump pushed Zelensky to sign a minerals deal giving the United States access to Ukrainian minerals.
The Trump administration argues that such a deal would ensure long-term investments in Ukraine's future prosperity and in deterring Russian aggression.
Zelensky cited dozens of examples of Russia's violations of various truces since 2014, although numerous American companies were operating in Ukraine at the time.
