Lisbon summons Russian ambassador to talk about drones

Osaka, Japan – The Minister of State and Foreign Affairs today classified the Russian ambassador’s call for explanations regarding “the invasion of airspace and the border” of Poland as “a formal protest.”
“It is a practice that a large part of the European Union members have agreed upon, it relates to the circumstance of having had dozens of drones crossing the airspace and, therefore, entering the territory of the European Union and NATO territory, which is a circumstance that has no parallel,” justified Paulo Rangel, in statements to journalists, at the end of a visit to the Portugal Pavilion at Expo Osaka, as part of the Prime Minister’s visit to Japan.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, summoned the Russian ambassador to request explanations about “the invasion of airspace and the border” of Poland, an official source told Lusa on Thursday.
When asked about the meaning of this act, the government’s ‘number two’ said it has a sense of “formal protest and sanctioning significance.”
“If you want, it is a warning, it is a first warning sanction. We await explanations, that hearing will almost be taking place in Portugal and, obviously, there may be some explanation,” he said.
However, the minister said he has little expectation that it can occur “convincingly.”
“So far, the Russian Federation has not provided any convincing explanation for this fact,” he stated.
When asked if all EU countries will make this decision, Rangel admitted that it will not be unanimous, but many countries have already done so.
“France, for example, also decided to do this today, Spain had done it, Sweden also, Belgium also, Croatia also, Romania also, the Baltic countries also, Poland, obviously, I would say it is a large number, it will certainly be more than 20,” he specified.
The Russian ambassador is currently outside Portugal, so he will be represented by the chargé d’affaires of the Russian embassy in Lisbon.
Polish authorities, who reported a “large-scale provocation” by Russia, indicated that 19 drones entered Polish airspace, with some being shot down.
The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, invoked Article 4 of NATO, which provides for consultations among member states.
Moscow claimed it had no intention of violating Russian airspace. (12/09725)