FILE PHOTO: French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu speaks during the ceremony marking the departure of French troops from the West African country at the French base, the 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion (43e BIMA) renamed as Miltary Camp Ouattara Paul Thomas d'Acquin after the first Ivorian general, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, February 20, 2025. REUTERS/Luc Gnago
PARIS (Reuters) - A French Reaper drone on a surveillance mission in international airspace over the eastern Mediterranean was the target of intimidation by a Russian SU-35 fighter jet, France's Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday.
The incident comes as European countries scramble to boost defence spending and increase support for Ukraine in its war against invading Russian forces amid growing doubts over the commitment of the Trump administration to defending Europe.
The Russian jet made three successive passes in close proximity, which "could have caused the drone to lose control, reflecting a desire to restrict free air movement in common areas", Lecornu wrote on X, adding this was an "intentional, unprofessional and aggressive action that is not acceptable".
"France will continue to act to defend freedom of navigation in international air and maritime spaces," he said.
Lecornu did not say exactly where the incident occurred in the eastern Mediterranean.
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Gareth Jones)
