German defence minister warns of Moscow’s ‘escalation trap’

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius issued a warnign against military responses to Russian airspace violations, calling these a trap, as he met Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson on Tuesday.

Pistorius described this as an “escalation trap,” saying “We will not do [Russian President] Vladimir Putin that favour.”

He was referring to a spate of provocative violations of the airspace of NATO member countries that have outraged the nations affected.

Pistorius noted the incidents had not yet involved discernible aggression. “But that is a prerequisite for kinetic, physical intervention,” he said, referring to calls to shoot down Russian aircraft that violate airspace.

“And that’s why we have to say very clearly: we will not allow ourselves to be provoked, but we are there and we will intercept. We will closely monitor what happens and will escort them out. Tolerant and patient, but making it clear that we are there and we can do more at any time.”

Eurofighter pilots and Swedish fighter pilots can defend their own airspace at any time, Pistorius said. “That must be clear to everyone, and it is also clear to Russia.”

He said prudence and strength are not mutually exclusive, but belong together.

Of reinforcements of NATO’s presence on the eastern flank, Jonson said that now is the time for solidarity and practical action.

Pistorius said following the planned decommissioning of the AWACS reconnaissance aircraft, Berlin is considering the Saab-built GlobalEye early warning aircraft.

“Yes, that is also an option for Germany,” he said. “We are working on it. We haven’t made a decision yet, but I would say it is in pole position, to put it cautiously.”