**Russian Intimidation Tactics on French Aircraft**
A French maritime patrol aircraft was locked onto by a Russian ground-to-air defense system while flying over the Baltic Sea. This incident happened overnight on January 17.
The aircraft was patrolling in international airspace as part of a NATO operation. France’s Defense Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, said this action is not acceptable and that their armies will continue to defend freedom of navigation.
**Growing Concerns Over Russian Sabotage**
The Baltic Sea region has seen increased concerns over Russian sabotage since Western nations supported Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in 2022. In December, four telecommunication cables and one power cable were damaged, with Finnish authorities suspecting the involvement of a Russian vessel.
In response to this incident, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte vowed to increase NATO’s military presence in the region. Eight NATO member states bordering the Baltic Sea also unveiled a coordinated action plan to address risks to underwater infrastructure.
**Recurring Incidents**
This is not the first time Russia has been accused of jamming GPS signals on aircraft. In March, Russia likely jammed the signal on a Royal Air Force aircraft used to transport the UK Defence Minister. Russian aircraft frequently operate over the Baltic Sea without transponders or flight plans, testing NATO’s response capabilities.
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