NATO Jets Chase Away Russian Fighters After Estonia Airspace Breach
NATO quickly stepped in when three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets buzzed into Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland on Friday. The unauthorized entry lasted about 12 minutes, sparking a swift response from alliance forces.
Italian F-35 jets, based in Estonia as part of NATO’s Eastern Sentry mission, teamed up with Swedish and Finnish aircraft to intercept the intruders. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas shared that the Russian pilots had no choice but to turn back and flee the area. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the move as a "quick and decisive" show of strength.
This bold airspace violation has Estonia on high alert. The country immediately called for NATO Article 4 consultations, where members discuss threats to their security. Prime Minister Kallas called the breach "totally unacceptable," and a NATO spokesperson confirmed the North Atlantic Council will meet early next week to dive deeper into the issue.
It’s not an isolated event. Just last week, Poland triggered a similar Article 4 consultation after Russian drones and jets crossed into its airspace. Estonia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires to protest the incident. Not long after, Poland’s border guard spotted two more Russian fighter jets making a risky low-level flyover of a Polish-owned oil platform in the Baltic Sea. Polish security teams are keeping a close watch.
These Russian airspace violations highlight rising tensions in the region. Estonia has seen four such breaches this year alone, but this one stands out for its audacity with three fighter jets involved. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna slammed it as "unprecedentedly brazen" and urged stronger political and economic pressure on Russia to curb their growing aggressiveness.
Romania’s Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu echoed the sentiment after chatting with her Estonian counterpart. "Russia is trying to undermine NATO’s unity, but they’re doing the opposite—making us stronger," she told reporters.
As NATO bolsters its eastern defenses amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine tensions, these incidents serve as a stark reminder of the fragile balance in the Baltic region.
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