NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned Russia it will face military countermeasures if airspace violations continue, following recent incidents involving Russian fighter jets over Estonia and drones over Poland. The alliance is debating whether stronger action, such as threatening to shoot down Russian aircraft, is necessary. 

“The situation is very serious indeed. We have been observing airspace violations by Russia for years. But what Putin is doing now has a new quality. He is testing how resolutely NATO reacts and whether weaknesses are emerging. I think this is a dangerous escalation,” says Michael Williams, associate professor of public administration and international affairs.

“Rutte has sent a clear message, but at the same time put the alliance in a difficult position. If NATO does not act accordingly in the event of the next Russian airspace violation, Russia knows that Rutte's words were an empty threat. This would damage not only the credibility of the Secretary General, but of NATO as a whole. Then it could be really dangerous,” he says. 

Read more in the t-online article, “‘Rutte has put NATO in a difficult position.’”