NATO warns Russia over Estonian airspace violations

Britain has committed RAF Typhoon jets to Nato’s Eastern Sentry mission following Russian violations of the alliance’s airspace in recent weeks (Joe Giddens/PA) Joe Giddens

Nato has issued a stark warning to Russia following last week's violation of Estonian airspace by three MiG-31 fighter jets. The alliance declared it will respond to such incursions "in the manner, timing and domain of our choosing" in a statement released after an emergency meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

The 19 September incident prompted Estonia to invoke Nato's Article 4, which allows members to request consultations when their security is threatened. Tuesday's meeting came at Estonia's specific request, with the alliance condemning what it described as "part of a wider pattern of increasingly irresponsible Russian behaviour".

'Ironclad' defence commitment

Nato warned Moscow that the alliance "will employ, in accordance with international law, all necessary military and non-military tools to defend ourselves and deter all threats from all directions". The statement emphasised that Nato's commitment to its Article 5 mutual defence pact remains "ironclad".

Article 4 has been invoked nine times since Nato's foundation in 1949, including twice this month alone following Russian incursions into allied airspace. The three Russian jets were intercepted by Nato aircraft operating as part of the alliance's Eastern Sentry mission.

Escalating regional tensions

The Estonian violation followed similar incidents earlier in September involving Russian drones shot down over Poland and another drone intercepted in Romanian airspace. All three incidents have prompted increasingly tough responses from Nato allies.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the violation of his country's airspace had brought it the closest to "open conflict" it had been since the Second World War. Speaking to the UN Security Council on Monday, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK is "ready to confront planes that are operating in Nato airspace without permission".

Cooper accused Moscow of risking "direct armed confrontation" through its actions. The UK has already committed RAF Typhoon jets to the Eastern Sentry mission, with the aircraft flying their first mission over Poland on the night of 19 September.

Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.