Bloomberg Talks NATO’s Rutte Talks Airspace Incursions, Russia-Ukraine War
Sep 25, 2025
Mark Rutte, the long-serving Dutch politician and NATO Secretary General, dives into pressing issues affecting the alliance. He discusses recent airspace incursions and NATO's rules of engagement. Rutte sheds light on the challenges posed by drone warfare and the innovations NATO is adopting from Ukraine. With insights on US support for Ukraine and the sustainability of Russian operations, he emphasizes NATO's strategic adaptations. The conversation also touches on funding Ukraine through frozen Russian assets and long-term objectives for arming and supporting Ukraine.
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NATO Has Clear Rules For Air Incursions
- NATO pilots are trained and authorized to assess incursions and can escort or, if necessary, shoot down violating aircraft.
- Mark Rutte says the rules and authorities are in place and pilots know how to respond to Russian airspace violations.
Drones Require New, Scalable Defenses
- Drones pose a different challenge because they are numerous and cheap, and hitting them with expensive missiles is unsustainable.
- NATO is rapidly developing cheaper counter-drone technologies and learning from Ukraine to apply them soon.
Dutch F-35 Pilot Intercepted Drones
- Mark Rutte praised a Dutch F-35 pilot who shot down drones over Poland as the right immediate response.
- He presented this as an example of NATO prioritizing civilian safety while developing better tech.