PARIS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Friday Paris had no evidence that Russia was behind an unidentified drone neutralised near the Charles de Gaulle aircraft
France: Drone near Charles de Gaulle would be provocation if tied to Russia
France and Sweden respond after unidentified drone neutralised near aircraft carrier
Barrot: No evidence of Russian involvement, but warning of provocation
PARIS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Friday Paris had no evidence that Russia was behind an unidentified drone neutralised near the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier docked in Sweden but if that were to be the case it would be a "ridiculous provocation".
Incident details: Drone downed near carrier group docked in Malmo
The Swedish military on Wednesday took down a drone of unknown origin detected more than 10 km from the carrier, the French army told Reuters. The carrier group is currently on a mission in the region and docked this week in the city of Malmo.
Key statements and operational updates
Sweden’s assessment of possible airspace violation
* Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson said on ThursdaySwedish airspace had probably been violated by a drone "inconnection with a Russian military ship" in Swedish territorialwaters.France’s position on potential Russian origin
* "If indeed, as the (Swedish) defence minister suggested,there is a potential Russian origin for this incident, the onlyconclusion I would draw is that this is a ridiculousprovocation," Barrot told reporters in Malmo on Friday.Security impact on the French carrier
* The security of the French battleship was not threatened,he added.Swedish Navy observations and countermeasures
* A Swedish Navy ship observed the suspicious drone duringan ongoing maritime patrol on Thursday, Sweden's armed forcessaid. * Sweden initiated countermeasures to disrupt the drone,which was not recovered, and no further observations have sincebeen made.Broader context: Drone activity across European NATO countries
* The incident is the latest in a flurry of drone activitiesin several European NATO countries that have been linked toMoscow.Source and credits
(Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro, John Irish in Paris, Johan Ahlander in Stockholm and Terje Solsvik in Oslo; Editing by Toby Chopra)
