Every time I read such a headline, I ask myself why don’t they just shoot these Russian military machines outbid the sky?
Because that could be seen as an escalation. An escalation that no-one wants.
Could easily lead to the opposite too. Big words from Russia, and then actually stopping flying their jets over European countries.
Turkey did so in 2015 in the Syrian war. Russia protested, moved some troops, and then did nothing. Certainly didn’t fly over Turkey again.
The situation is a bit different now with the availability of lower-cost drones, but Russia’s goal is more disrupting and irritating others than actually attacking. They can’t afford a real conflict.
The alternative is keeping this shit that is happening right now going. Letting Russia play it’s game.
An aggressor like Russia only understands hard lines. They’ll make use of anything that is less.
I completely agree with you. But at the same time, Russia knows very well that most of its provocations will remain unanswered, because we are not ready to escalate, as long as they remain under a certain threshold. And what they are doing now is slowly nudging that bar higher and higher.
But Poland shoot the drones down?
Yes, but what are the consequences for Russia from that? Shooting down something that is single-use anyway won’t impress the attacker. But when for example Turkey shot down the fighter jet that entered their airspace, the message was crystal clear. You won’t find many fighters from Russia entering their airspace anymore.
True, didn’t think about the point that the drones were single use.
Still I think they should just shoot every tinny bit of Russian war Maschine, entering a NATO country.…after clearly announcing that any trespassing will no longer be tolerated, yes.
It should be obvious to not fly your fighter jets into foreign countries. This could be an escalation, no one wants.
Turkey seems not to give much of a fuck:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Russian_Sukhoi_Su-24_shootdown
It is a question of what reaction you realistically expect. If you know the other side eventually won’t do anything, you can keep your planes flying into their airspace. And that’s the credibility problem we’re currently facing.
Just earlier, I watched a video which mentions in 2015, Russia violating Turkey airspace and being shot down. Russia and Turkey were both actively involved in the Syrian war, but not directly with each other outside of it. Russia protested, moved some troops, but ultimately did nothing. Certainly didn’t fly over Turkey again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Russian_Sukhoi_Su-24_shootdown
NATO needs to draw a hard line. If they don’t, Russia will continue to move lines, test responses, invade, and attack to the furthest degree possible without reprimand, and through all of this irritate, disrupt, and introduce disagreement within the NATO and European nations.
Drones are less expensive. But Russia would definitely feel jets being shut down.
