Overview

• NORAD said four F-16s, four KC-135 tankers and an E-3 were scrambled to identify Russian aircraft near the Alaska ADIZ, which remained in international airspace.
• The U.S. Air Force reported the Russian formation included two Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters before turning away without entering U.S. or Canadian airspace.
• NATO said two Hungarian Gripens deployed in Lithuania intercepted a Su-30, a Su-35 and three MiG-31 flying near Latvian airspace.
• Russia’s ambassador in France, Alexey Meshkov, warned that any NATO shootdown of Russian jets would mean war and denied Moscow’s role in recent drone or airspace incidents.
• Several allies, including Poland and Sweden, and President Donald Trump have signaled readiness to down violators, while NATO keeps collectively approved, conservative rules; Secretary General Mark Rutte noted talks with Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen on drone threats to critical infrastructure.