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.
