NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte accused Russia on Friday of violating Romanian airspace after a meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers in Brussels.
Rutte expressed his full solidarity with Romania and on Thursday praised the Romanian air force and NATO’s top military commander for their “quick and effective response” to the incident.
NATO defense ministers met in Brussels to review their new defense plans put in place in the wake of Russia’s massive invasion of Ukraine.
Air and missile defense remains a priority for NATO, Rutte said, because Russia’s war against Ukraine “has resulted in multiple violations of NATO airspace,” as in Romania.
NATO “will continue to increase surveillance, exchange information and coordinate individual and collective responses,” Rutte said.
According to reports from Romania, two Spanish F-18 fighter jets from NATO air surveillance had already been alerted to check the situation before the missile crossed the border.
The Romanian Air Force also sent two F-16 aircraft. However, according to reports, the pilots did not have to intervene.
People in the region had to take cover in cellars or shelters because of the air raid siren. The flying object penetrated approximately 14 kilometers into Romanian airspace.
