NATO jets scrambled to intercept Russian warplanes over the Baltic
Fighter jets of the NATO Air Defense forces were scrambled to intercept Russian warplanes near the Latvian border.
The incident was reported by the National Armed Forces of Latvia on Twitter.
“On July 13, NATO fighter jets on a patrol mission over Baltics detected and escorted 2 Russian SU-27 fighter jets near the Latvian border,” the statement read.
Russian warships and military aircraft have been increasingly active near the air and sea borders of the Baltic States since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine and the deterioration of relations between the West and Russia.
In 2015, Russian military aircraft were spotted near Latvian borders more than 270 times. Although the aircraft do not violate the territorial airspace of the Baltic States, they are still considered a threat to civil aviation.
The Baltic States and the United Kingdom have repeatedly said that Russia habitually demonstrates its power and tests the reaction of NATO by flying near their borders.