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French Reaper drone was target of Russian intimidation, defence minister says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 4, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 25, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
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Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 4, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 25, 2026
A French Reaper drone was intimidated by a Russian SU-35 in Mediterranean airspace, prompting France to condemn the action and affirm its commitment to navigation freedom.
PARIS (Reuters) - A French Reaper drone on a surveillance mission in international airspace over the eastern Mediterranean was the target of intimidation by a Russian SU-35 fighter jet, France's Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday.
The incident comes as European countries scramble to boost defence spending and increase support for Ukraine in its war against invading Russian forces amid growing doubts over the commitment of the Trump administration to defending Europe.
The Russian jet made three successive passes in close proximity, which "could have caused the drone to lose control, reflecting a desire to restrict free air movement in common areas", Lecornu wrote on X, adding this was an "intentional, unprofessional and aggressive action that is not acceptable".
"France will continue to act to defend freedom of navigation in international air and maritime spaces," he said.
Lecornu did not say exactly where the incident occurred in the eastern Mediterranean.
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Gareth Jones)
The main topic is the intimidation of a French Reaper drone by a Russian SU-35 jet in international airspace over the Mediterranean.
The incident highlights tensions in international airspace and underscores the importance of defending navigation freedom.
France's Defence Minister condemned the action as aggressive and unprofessional, reaffirming the country's commitment to navigation freedom.
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