Russian Military Aircraft Routinely Test NATO Airspace and Warship Boundaries Amid Heightened Tensions

Tensions between NATO and Russian military forces continue to rise with frequent close encounters and airspace incursions. Swedish Air Force Chief Mikael Claesson affirmed that Swedish pilots are authorized to use force, including shooting down Russian aircraft violating NATO airspace, emphasizing that such a decision rests with the pilot in the moment. NATO has increased air patrols and air defense deployments along its eastern flank in response to persistent Russian drone sightings and incursions, with Poland and Denmark reporting recent activity. NATO maritime commanders report routine close fly-bys of Russian reconnaissance and bomber aircraft near NATO warships, describing these as a pattern dating back to Russia's 2014 actions in Ukraine, intended to test NATO's resolve without escalating to open conflict. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) recently intercepted Russian Su-35 fighters and Tu-95 bombers near Alaska, where the Russian planes remained in international airspace but within the air defense identification zone, a common occurrence that NORAD does not consider a direct threat. Overall, NATO officials stress the importance of professional conduct during these encounters to avoid miscalculations while preparing to respond firmly to violations of their airspace.