The Norwegian government has announced that Norwegian pilots, who will be stationed from October at Krzesiny near Poznań, will be prepared to shoot down Russian drones and aircraft if they violate Polish airspace. The final decision to use weapons will, however, belong to NATO command, it was emphasized.
Norwegian planes will neutralize Russian targets. There is one condition
“The North Atlantic Alliance has warned Russia not to escalate the situation. Our mission in Poland will first and foremost be to defend NATO territory against airborne threats. We will be ready to intercept objects violating Polish airspace,” assured Norwegian Deputy Minister of Defence Andreas Flaam in an interview with PAP.
He stressed that the commander of NATO allied forces in Europe will decide on the choice of measures in each situation.
NATO command has a range of tools to prevent provocations in the air, it was noted.
This is another Norwegian mission
“We have intensified surveillance and deterrence on the eastern flank. Allied military presence in countries bordering Russia has clearly increased,” the deputy minister observed.
Fighter jets, F-35s of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, which are due to arrive in Poland in the coming days, will be the second such mission this year. The previous operation began in January and lasted until the summer.
Shooting down as a last resort
Politicians representing the Baltic states, Germany, and the Czech Republic are calling for readiness to shoot down Russian aircraft if they do not stop their provocations. NATO adheres to the principles of proportionality and de-escalation. This means that shooting down an aircraft is a last resort, used only in the case of a real threat to citizens’ lives. Most Russian aircraft are intercepted and escorted out of NATO airspace, and force is not used.