NATO on Tuesday condemned Russia for violating Estonian airspace and stated that it will use “all necessary military and non-military means of defense” when faced with “a pattern of increasingly irresponsible behavior” by Moscow.
Estonia announced on Friday that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated its airspace for 12 minutes before being escorted out by Italian NATO fighter jets.
Western officials believe that this incident was designed to test NATO’s readiness and determination, and it occurred only a week after around twenty Russian drones entered Polish airspace, several of which were shot down by NATO aircraft.
“Russia bears full responsibility for these actions, which are escalating, risk miscalculation, and endanger lives. They must stop,” NATO announced on Tuesday.
“Russia should have no doubt: NATO and the allies will, in accordance with international law, use all necessary military and non-military means to defend ourselves and deter all threats from all directions,” the statement emphasizes.
The NATO meeting, composed of ambassadors from the 32 member states of the alliance, was convened by Estonia in accordance with Article 4 of NATO’s founding treaty.
The article states that allies will “consult whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security” of a member is threatened.
This article is being used for only the ninth time in NATO’s 76-year history, but already the second time this month in response to incidents over Poland and Estonia.
“Allies will not be deterred by these and other irresponsible actions of Russia from their lasting commitments to support Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours, in exercising its inherent right to self-defense against brutal and unprovoked Russian aggression,” NATO warned in the statement.
