**Russian Fighter Jet Provokes French Drone**
A Russian Su-35 fighter jet engaged in a close encounter with a French Reaper drone over the Mediterranean Sea. This incident happened on March 2, according to French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu.
The Russian jet made three close approaches to the French drone while it was on an observation mission. Mr. Lecornu said that these maneuvers could have caused the drone to lose control. He described the behavior of the Russian fighter jet as “intentional, unprofessional, and aggressive”.
**France Speaks Out**
Mr. Lecornu strongly condemned the actions of the Russian pilot. He said it was unacceptable and stated that France will continue to protect freedom of navigation in international air and sea space.
This is not the first incident involving Russian military aircraft. In 2023, a Russian fighter jet forced down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea. Similarly, Dutch F-35 jets intercepted Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea last December.
**Russian Military Activity**
Russian military aircraft often operate without proper communication and navigation systems over the Baltic and Black Seas. These actions are seen as tests of NATO’s response capabilities.
