So it seems we know where Putin has decided he is going to test NATO. Three drones shot down in 3 days…
A new drone was shot down on Sunday morning, at 10:13, by an F-16 plane of the Romanian Air Force, over the territorial waters of Romania, in the Sulina–Chilia area, President Nicușor Dan announced. It is the third drone shot down by Romanian pilots in three consecutive days. The unmanned aircraft was neutralized over the Black Sea. The president’s announcement came about half an hour after the drone was shot down. „I congratulate the Romanian pilots and the ground teams for the professionalism, courage and efficiency with which they carry out their missions. Through their action, they contribute to the defense of the national territory and the safety of Romanian citizens”, President Nicușor Dan said on Sunday morning. He stated that the first drone shot down on Friday is Shahed and that Romania will initiate a diplomatic protest against Russia.
One explanation is that a small somewhat deniable attack on a NATO member can slowly erode trust in a reliable article 5 response, bringing about the kind of local alliances world that benefits Putin, who wants to control the areas surrounding Russia.