Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland on Friday, prompting a swift NATO response, CNN reported, citing both the Estonian Foreign Ministry and a NATO spokesperson. The jets remained in Estonian airspace for approximately 12 minutes without authorisation, according to the ministry. In response, Italian F-35s deployed under NATO’s Eastern Sentry mission, supported by Swedish and Finnish aircraft, intercepted the Russian planes, NATO’s Allied Command Operations confirmed.
Jets were forced to flee, says Estonian PM
Reacting on the matter, Estonian Prime Minister Krisen Michal said the Russian jets were ultimately “forced to flee.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte commended the alliance’s response, describing it as “quick and decisive.” Following the incident, Estonia requested consultations under NATO’s Article 4, with Michal calling the violation “totally unacceptable.” NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed that the North Atlantic Council will convene early next week to discuss the matter in detail. Article 4 allows any NATO member to raise concerns to the council when its territorial integrity, political independence, or security is threatened, CNN reported.
Poland similarly triggered such a consultation last week after Russian drones and fighter jets entered its airspace. The Estonian foreign ministry also summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires in response to the breach. Hours later, Poland’s border guard reported that two Russian fighter jets conducted a “low-level pass” over a Baltic Sea oil platform owned by Polish company Petrobaltic. “Polish security services are constantly monitoring the situation,” the border guard said.
These incidents are the latest in a series of airspace violations by Russian jets and drones targeting NATO member states in recent days. “Russia has already violated Estonia’s airspace four times this year, which is unacceptable. But today’s incursion, involving three fighter aircraft, is unprecedentedly brazen,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said as reported by CNN.
Tsahkna added, “Russia’s increasingly extensive testing of boundaries and growing aggressiveness must be met with a swift increase in political and economic pressure.”
Romania’s Foreign Minister Oana Toiu told CNN that she had spoken with her Estonian counterpart about the incident. “We are clear on the fact that it is unacceptable. Russia is trying to undermine NATO’s coherence, but they are achieving the exact opposite,” Toiu said. (With inputs from ANI).
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