UK jets ready to confront Russia, 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 warned that Russia is risking "direct armed confrontation" with NATO as she condemned recent Russian military incursions into alliance airspace. Speaking to the UN Security Council for the first time as Foreign Secretary, Cooper said British jets are ready to "confront" Russian planes violating NATO territory.

Cooper described the Russian incursions as "a deliberate attempt to undermine the territorial integrity of sovereign nations and European security". She warned: "They risk miscalculation. They open the door to direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia."

The warning follows a significant incident on 19 September when three Russian jets entered Estonian airspace without permission. The aircraft remained in NATO territory for 12 minutes before being intercepted by Italian jets operating as part of NATO's Eastern Sentry mission.

NATO territory under pressure

Similar incidents have occurred in Poland and Romania, where Russian drones were intercepted or shot down over NATO territory. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his country was the closest to "open conflict" it had been since the Second World War.

In response to the drone incursion over Poland, the UK announced that RAF Typhoon jets would join Eastern Sentry operations. The British aircraft flew their first mission over Poland late on 19 September.

Cooper emphasised NATO's defensive stance but issued a firm warning during her UN address on Monday. She said: "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."

Cyber attacks linked to Russia

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has separately revealed that hostile states including Russia are behind recent cyber attacks targeting UK businesses. Major retailers Marks and Spencer and Co-Op, along with several airports, have been among those affected in recent months.

Reeves told ITV News that the Government and businesses need to "step up" their efforts to combat increasing cyber security threats. She said: "A number of these attacks originate in Russia by Russian-backed entities, and we are getting a grip of that."

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