Lawmakers are fuming after Russian jets downed a $32 million United States drone but are demonstrating caution in order to avoid further escalation, The Hill reported.
According to the outlet, senators expect to be briefed by the Pentagon soon on the recent provocations by Moscow, which culminated Tuesday with the downing of a U.S. MQ9 Reaper drone by Russian Su-27 fighter jets.
"I think we'll be looking into whether the Russian pilots were authorized or simply on some sort of irresponsible gambit," Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, informed reporters.
"But, no question, it's a concern," he continued. "This was international space, and we had every right to be there, and I think we will demonstrate, in coming days, that we continue to feel that we have every right to be there and will be there again."
Hesitant to reveal whether they believed the downing was intentional or not, the senators also maintained a tempered tone even while they condemned the Russian pilots' actions.
"I think we can presume that the fighter jet pilot didn't intentionally run into — he probably intentionally harassed, obviously, but there's no real incentive for a pilot to run into another airplane," Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., told The Hill.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed Thursday, after the Department of Defense released footage of the confrontation, that the U.S. has still not determined the motivation of the pilots.
"At best, it's reckless flying, and at worst, it's reckless and incompetent. We don't know whether it is also intentional," Kirby suggested. "We do not — we have made clear on many occasions — we do not seek a conflict with Russia."
The Pentagon has maintained that the drone was legally flying over international waters of the Black Sea.
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