Overview

• On March 2, a Russian SU-35 fighter jet made three successive close passes near a French Reaper surveillance drone in international airspace over the eastern Mediterranean.
• French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the incident as an intentional, non-professional, and aggressive action aimed at restricting free navigation in shared airspace.
• The French government released video evidence of the incident, showing the Russian jet's proximity to the drone, which could have caused the drone to lose control.
• The event occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations, with shifting U.S. military support for Ukraine and European efforts to bolster defense capabilities.
• France reaffirmed its commitment to upholding freedom of navigation in international air and maritime spaces, calling the Russian maneuvers unacceptable.