NATO warns Russia it will defend itself after Estonian airspace violation

NATO denounced Russia on Tuesday for breaching Estonian airspace last week, warning it would employ “all necessary military and non-military tools” in its defence against what it described as “a pattern of increasingly irresponsible behaviour” by Moscow.

Estonia reported on Friday that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes before being forced out by NATO’s Italian jets. Western officials suggested the incident was intended to test the alliance’s readiness and resolve.

It came just a week after some 20 Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace, several of which were shot down by NATO aircraft.

“Russia bears full responsibility for these escalatory actions, which risk miscalculation and endanger lives. They must cease,” the North Atlantic Council declared in a statement. The council added, “Russia should be under no illusion: NATO and its Allies will, in line with international law, employ all necessary military and non-military measures to protect ourselves and deter threats from every direction. Our response will come in the manner, timing and domain of our choosing.”

The North Atlantic Council, comprising ambassadors from NATO’s 32 member states, convened on Tuesday (23 September) at Estonia’s request under Article 4 of the alliance’s founding treaty. This article calls for consultations whenever the security, territorial integrity or political independence of a member state is deemed at risk.

It is the ninth time in NATO’s 76-year history that Article 4 has been invoked, with two instances occurring this month alone following the incidents over Poland and Estonia.

The statement further stressed that NATO members “will not be intimidated by Russia’s reckless actions” and reaffirmed their commitment to support Ukraine, describing its security as integral to the alliance. Ukraine, the statement emphasised, was acting in “its inherent right to self-defence against Russia’s brutal and unprovoked aggression.”

However Russia has denied that it's jets had violated NATO airsapce.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte added that Russia’s recent actions — including drone intrusions into Polish and Romanian airspace and the violation of Estonian airspace by fighter jets — were either deliberate or the result of “blatant incompetence.”

He noted, however, that when NATO aircraft escorted the Russian jets out of Estonian airspace last week, the alliance did not immediately judge the incident to be a direct danger.

“We will always assess the level of risk, whether it poses a threat to our collective defence or posture, and we will respond accordingly,” Rutte told a news conference. “In this case, no immediate threat was identified.”

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