Dutch Defense Minister supports shooting down Russian drones and missiles that fly into NATO airspace

VILNIUS - Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans stressed on Monday on the X platform that Russia's violations of NATO airspace are unacceptable and dangerous and that such drones and missiles should be intercepted.

"Our response must be clear. Drones and missiles entering our airspace must be spotted and intercepted. If necessary, NATO should support individual allies," said the new Dutch Defense Minister, who succeeded Kajsa Ollongrene in July.

Brekelmans made the remarks on the X platform after a meeting in Vilnius with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Laurynas Kasciunas.

As reported earlier, on September 7, an Russian Shahed drone, carrying explosives and targeting Ukraine, came from Belarus into Latvia crashed in the Gaigalava municipality of Rezekne region.

The NBS monitored the situation, but no decision was taken either to shoot down the drone or to scramble the NATO fighters on duty in Latvia. When the drone went down, the warhead that had not exploded was deactivated.