Russia is risking ‘direct armed confrontation’ with Nato, Foreign Secretary warns

British jets will ‘confront’ Russian aircraft violating Nato airspace, the Foreign Secretary has told the UN (Ben Birchall/PA) Ben Birchall

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has said British jets are ready to “confront” Russian planes violating Nato airspace, as she accused Moscow of risking “direct armed confrontation”.

Speaking to the UN on Monday, she said: “They are a deliberate attempt to undermine the territorial integrity of sovereign nations and European security.

“They risk miscalculation. They open the door to direct armed confrontation between Nato and Russia.”

The warning follows an incident on 19 September when three Russian military jets entered Estonian airspace without authorisation.

The jets remained there for 12 minutes before being intercepted by Italian jets operating as part of NATO's Eastern Sentry mission.

Similar incidents have also occurred in Poland and Romania, with Russian drones being intercepted or shot down over Nato territory.

Cooper added on Monday: “Our alliance is defensive, but be under no illusion, we stand ready to take all steps necessary to defend Nato’s skies and Nato’s territory.

“We are vigilant. We are resolute. And if we need to confront planes that are operating in Nato airspace without permission, then we will do so.”

Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.