Post by : Rameen Ariff

The United Kingdom said its Royal Air Force jets recently took part in a 12-hour joint patrol with U.S. and NATO forces near the Russian border, following a series of drone and aircraft incursions into NATO airspace.

Defence Minister John Healey described the operation as a “substantial joint mission” with the country’s allies. He said the mission not only provided important intelligence to strengthen the operational readiness of British armed forces but also sent a strong signal of NATO unity to Russian President Vladimir Putin and other potential adversaries.

During the mission, an RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic surveillance aircraft and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane flew from the Arctic region, passing over Belarus and Ukraine. The operation was supported in the air by a U.S. Air Force KC-135 refuelling aircraft.

The patrol comes in response to recent incursions into the airspace of NATO member countries, including Poland, Romania, and Estonia. These events have raised concerns about Russia’s increasing use of drones and military aircraft near allied borders.

Earlier this month, European Union leaders agreed to strengthen the bloc’s defences against Russian drones, reflecting growing regional security concerns.

#Global