This file photo taken on October 16, 2008 shows a U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. (AFP Photo)

MOSCOW, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) F-16 fighter attempted to approach a Russian plane carrying defense minister Sergei Shoigu over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, Russian media outlets reported Wednesday.

One of several Su-27 fighters escorting Shoigu's plane en route to Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad forced the NATO jet to retreat by demonstrating its weapons, according to the reports.

The encounter came shortly after Russia scrambled an Su-27 aircraft to consecutively intercept two U.S. RC-135 reconnaissance planes over the Baltic Sea's neutral waters on Monday.

Russia accused one of the U.S. planes of performing a provocative maneuver against its fighter during the intercept, but the U.S. side denied the accusation and blamed the Su-27 for being too close to its plane.

The Baltic region has become a hotspot for Russia-NATO confrontation as the U.S.-led alliance is increasing its military presence in the area near the Russian border.