Part 2/14:
Rutte described these incursions as potentially intentional or, in the worst case, the result of incompetence, but stressed the need for vigilance. NATO has responded by deploying jets to intercept Russian aircraft, escorting them out of NATO airspace when they pose no immediate threat but making clear that any actual threat to infrastructure or lives would be met with decisive military action. The alliance is increasingly united, with European allies ramping up defense spending, notably Germany by more than double its 2021 levels by 2029, and working closely with the U.S. to enhance military readiness.