NATO Scrambles Jets 7 Times as 100+ Drones Detected Near Romania

NATO fighter jets were scrambled seven times over four days after more than 100 drones were detected near Romania, the alliance’s eastern border. The latest figures highlight how Russia’s drone campaign is increasingly reaching NATO’s flank. Romania has already destroyed several drones this summer after they entered its airspace. The incidents mark a sharp rise in activity near the alliance’s frontline states, raising concerns over the spillover of the war in Ukraine. NATO has not confirmed the drones’ origin, but the pattern aligns with Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure near the border. Romanian authorities have repeatedly condemned the incursions, calling them a violation of national airspace. The alliance has reinforced its eastern presence in response, but the repeated drone activity tests its response times and air-defense readiness.