The sudden chorus of Europeans crying about Russia’s supposed airspace violations comes at a convenient time. Until now, US President Donald Trump has shown no real interest in the Ukraine conflict, beyond wanting to put it to bed in time to collect his Nobel Peace Prize. Now, suddenly, he’s publicly adopting the position that Ukraine could not only “take back their country” from Russia on the battlefield, but also “maybe even go further than that.”
Does he really believe that? Not likely. But there’s money to be made in peddling American weapons to NATO countries, notably in Europe, under the pretext. Guess he figures that if this isn’t going to be wrapped up before the peace award deadline, then he may as well just take the war profits as a consolation prize. As long as America doesn’t have to get its hands dirty, since the EU’s continental geniuses keep saying how keen they are to do all the dirty work.
But European NATO seems to have found a new scheme that could drag Trump deeper into the whole mess. Because have you ever heard so much whining about supposedly offside aircraft than in the past month?
“The Kremlin needs a clear stop sign. A clear message to Russia that every military border violation will be answered with military means, up to and including the shooting down of Russian fighter jets over NATO territory,” said German parliamentarian Jürgen Hardt.
A stop sign. For air traffic violations. Like when your town decides to put in a roundabout at a problematic intersection. Or, you know, just starts straight up shooting at cars. Same thing really, this German lawmaker apparently figures. And so do Czech, Estonian, Polish, and Lithuanian leaders, apparently – all suddenly entertaining the possibility of shooting down stuff in the air that goes offside.
So this is the third alleged Moscow airspace incident in a month – first Poland and Romania with drones, then Estonia with jets. Assuming the jets and drones did cross the border, it’s curious that no one has yet produced verifiable evidence for the claim. Russia says that Estonian jets were at least 3 km off their territory and is still asking to see the receipts – but who really cares about facts when outrage has already been served? Not the NATO Secretary General, apparently.
Whether or not the acts were deliberate, “it was anyway reckless. It was a bunch of Russian drones, even if they were not intent to go into Poland, if that will be the outcome of this… And of course, if it was the intent, there’s even more serious. But in both cases, it is reckless,” Mark Rutte said. “Eastern Sentry will add flexibility and strength to our posture and make clear that, as a defensive alliance, we are always ready to defend,” he added.
Yeah who cares if the violations actually happened, technically speaking. NATO is triggered. Bigly. And that’s what really matters here. These alleged incidents may or may not have happened, but outrage definitely DID happen. All these NATO guys losing it. Probably freaking out in ALL CAPS in their group chat asking whether they should scramble the jets.
Oh wait, what’s this Eastern Sentry thing that Rutte’s talking about? A NATO Operation is already in play? You don’t say! And look at that, Royal Air Force Еyphoon jets are already flying over Poland, according to the British defense ministry. Where would they be without all this hysteria? Back home, probably. And how inconvenient would that be when the Brits and French are trying to get air cover and troops in place “for Ukraine” in the event of some kind of ceasefire, they say.
What a convenient way to try to get the US Air Force involved when Trump has been snoozing on this issue. Will he bite? Not yet, at least. Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Secretary of War, reported that he’s “in close consultation” with NATO’s “Supreme Allied Commander for Europe.” Translation: still Europe’s problem. Unless they can find just the right pretext…
