Based on the text below, mark the correct option.
Russian jet intercepts US Navy plane
A Russian Su-27 fighter jet performed an
"unprofessional" intercept of a US Navy P-8
surveillance plane while it was flying in international
airspace over the Baltic Sea Tuesday, two defense
officials told CNN.
The Russian jet came within about 20 feet of
the US aircraft, one official said, adding that the
encounter lasted about nine minutes.
The intercept was described by officials as
safe but unprofessional, though a US Navy official
told CNN that the Navy does not officially classify
aerial encounters that way. The Navy classifies
aviation intercepts simply as either safe or unsafe.
Lt. Cdr. Zach Harrell, a spokesman for US
Naval Forces Europe, declined to comment on the
specific incident, saying, "US Navy ships and aircraft
routinely interact with military units from other
countries.". He added that the Navy would provide
information on unsafe interactions.
The last unsafe intercept of a US Navy
aircraft by a Russian jet occurred in January when a
Russian Su-27 jet flew within five feet of a US Navy
EP-3, forcing the Navy plane to fly through its jet
wash. The US Navy deemed that intercept unsafe and
unprofessional.
Following that incident, the US State
Department issued a statement accusing the Russians
of "flagrantly violating existing agreements and
international law.".
(Adapted from: http://www.cnn.com)
Considering the text, the word “declined” in “[...] a
spokesman for US Naval Forces Europe, declined to
comment on the specific incident [...] (4thparagraph)
means “______ ”.