NATO issued a stern warning to Russia, stating that they are prepared to utilize all necessary military measures to protect themselves following an incident where three Russian fighter jets breached Estonia’s airspace. Estonia lodged a formal complaint against the unauthorized entry of the Russian MiG-31 jets, which flew over the Vaindloo Island area and remained in Estonian airspace for about 12 minutes.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the alliance’s commitment to defending every inch of NATO territory, emphasizing readiness to intercept and, if required, down any unauthorized aircraft. In response to the airspace violation, a meeting of the NATO North Atlantic Council was convened to condemn Russia’s actions strongly and underscore the need for an immediate halt to such provocations.
The NATO statement highlighted a pattern of escalating irresponsible behavior by Russia, citing similar airspace violations in other NATO member countries. It stressed that Russia must cease such actions, which pose risks and endanger lives. NATO reaffirmed its resolve to employ both military and non-military means to protect against Russian threats.
Furthermore, NATO expressed unwavering support for Ukraine and reaffirmed its commitment to stand against Russian aggression. The incident involving the Russian jets near Vaindloo Island prompted Italian F-35 jets, part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission, to intercept the intruding aircraft.
Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described the incident as unprecedentedly bold, noting that Russia had violated Estonian airspace multiple times this year, although never to such a significant extent. The NATO statement followed Estonia’s invocation of Article 4, requiring consultations whenever a member state perceives threats to its territorial integrity or security.
In a separate development, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared a zero-tolerance policy towards violations of Polish airspace, stating a willingness to take immediate action in such instances.