NATO countries need to respond appropriately when Russian aircraft or drones violate their airspace.
This was stated by Czech President Petr Pavel, according to České noviny.
Pavel said that Russia is currently testing NATO countries – checking how the air defense systems of individual states work and how NATO’s integrated air defense system functions. The Russians also want to see how determined Alliance countries are to defend themselves.
According to him, Russia only respects those who show strength and decisiveness. If restraint is shown, Moscow perceives it as weakness.
“And from the Russian point of view, weakness deserves nothing other than to be wiped on the floor,” the Czech leader noted.
Pavel recalled that when he chaired NATO’s Military Committee, Russia repeatedly violated Turkey’s airspace.
“Only after about the tenth violation, which was clearly deliberate — a provocation in which Russia was testing how far it could go — did the Turks get angry and shoot down one of those Russian aircraft. And then there was calm,” the president said.
Despite fears at the time that this would trigger an escalation with NATO, Russia ceased further attempts.
