Something is afoot in Nato’s airspace – but the alliance’s complacent response to the various incursions is rather troubling. In recent weeks, suspicious drones have intruded into the jurisdictions of Belgium, Germany, Denmark and Norway; identifiable Russian drones were tracked over Romania and shot down over Poland. Three Russian Mikoyan MiG-31 fighters violated Estonia’s airspace and loitered for 12 minutes before retreating when Italian F-35 aircraft were scrambled to intercept them.

Putin is testing the alliance, pushing it little by little, upping the ante by increments to see what response he finds

You might think that these various incidents would shake Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, out of his usual phlegmatic self. But you’d be mistaken.

‘We are 25 times bigger than Rus

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