NATO chiefs of staff convened in Riga on Saturday to address recent Russian incursions into allied airspace, with alliance leaders condemning the violations as reckless and pledging stronger defenses.
"Today, I express full and unequivocal solidarity with all allies whose airspace has been breached. The alliance's response has been robust and will only continue to strengthen," Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chairman of the 32-member organization's Military Committee, said in his opening address.
"These acts are escalatory reckless and endanger lives, and Russia bears full responsibility for these actions," Dragone said.
Dragone pointed to historical events, noting that on September 25, 1939, Soviet bomber and reconnaissance aircraft had violated the airspace of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, describing this as "the opening signal of Moscow's determination to impose its will."
"The moment should resonate deeply with us today," he said.
