NATO has formally condemned a recent 12min incursion into Estonian airspace by a trio of armed Russian air force RAC MiG-31 interceptors, describing the incident as “part of a wider pattern of increasingly irresponsible behaviour” by Moscow.
Its comments followed a meeting of allies on 23 September, made at Tallinn’s request under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, “to consult and strongly condemn Russia’s dangerous violation of Estonian airspace on 19 September”.
After monitoring the Russian assets, “Allied aircraft were scrambled to intercept and escort them from Estonian airspace,” the North Atlantic Council says, adding that the response was “quick and decisive”.
A similar gathering had taken place in the wake an airspace incursion during which multiple Russian drones entered Polish airspace on 10 September.
“Several other allies – including Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Romania – have also recently experienced airspace violations by Russia,” NATO states.
“Russia bears full responsibility for these actions, which are escalatory, risk miscalculation and endanger lives. They must stop,” it cautions.
Moscow’s incursion into Polish airspace prompted an enhanced air policing presence in the country, involving contributions of additional fighters made by Denmark, France, Germany and the UK.
On 19 September, a first surveillance flight made in support of the expanded commitment – named Eastern Sentry – was made using a NATO Boeing E-3A airborne warning and control system aircraft.
“This multi-domain activity is a direct response to recent airspace violations… [and] will further strengthen NATO’s posture to shield and protect all allies,” the alliance says.
“Russia should be in no doubt: NATO and allies will employ, in accordance with international law, all necessary military and non-military tools to defend ourselves and deter all threats from all directions,” it says.
“We will continue to respond in the manner, timing, and domain of our choosing,” it adds, while describing a collective commitment to Article 5 – which determines that an armed attack on any one member will be taken as an attack on all – as “ironclad”.
“Allies will not be deterred by these and other irresponsible acts by Russia from their enduring commitments to support Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours,” it adds.
