It would have been a big deal. All I'm saying is that saying the Russians would have seen it as an act of war is a bit much and gives the Russians too little credit.
The Russians probably would have been somewhat pleased while putting on a show of mild annoyance and the Americans probably would be quite unpleased but unable to do much about it. The MiG 25 thing with the players reversed ( feigning annoyance is out of place with a defection, but would make sense with a technical border issue.) Standard politics.
The Russians probably would have been somewhat pleased while putting on a show of mild annoyance and the Americans probably would be quite unpleased but unable to do much about it. The MiG 25 thing with the players reversed ( feigning annoyance is out of place with a defection, but would make sense with a technical border issue.) Standard politics.