A new violation of Estonian airspace by three Russian MiG fighter jets has triggered a major diplomatic crisis and heightened tensions across the Baltic region.
According to Estonia’s foreign ministry, the jets entered Estonian airspace without authorization over the Gulf of Finland for approximately 12 minutes, an action described as an “unprecedented provocation.” This incident marks the fourth such incursion this year and the third in September alone, following similar airspace breaches in Poland and Romania.
Estonia summoned the Russian chargé d’affaires and formally requested the activation of NATO’s Article 4, which calls for consultations when the security of a member state is threatened. Prime Minister Kriisten Michal called the incursion “completely unacceptable,” while EU foreign policy chief and former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas warned on X that it was “an extremely dangerous provocation testing the cohesion of the Alliance.” Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that “Russia’s increasingly aggressive behavior requires an immediate political and economic response from the West.”
Moscow denies any airspace violation. NATO spokesperson Colonel Martin O’Donnell said, “This is not the kind of behavior one would expect from a professional air force.” In response, NATO scrambled Italian F-35s, as well as Swedish and Finnish quick-reaction aircraft, strengthening patrols under Operation “Eastern Sentry.” Meanwhile, Poland reported “provocative behavior” by Russian aircraft near an Orlen SA oil platform in the Baltic Sea, adding to fears of further destabilization.
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, warned: “I don’t like when this happens. It could be a big problem.” While he did not announce immediate actions, he said he would be fully briefed before deciding on the next steps. The airspace violations come amid Trump’s attempts to engage Russian President Vladimir Putin and delay new sanctions against Moscow, following his decision to end Biden-era policies of direct arms shipments to Ukraine.
The situation was further inflamed by recent large-scale Zapad military exercises jointly conducted by Russia and Belarus—the first of their kind since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. European officials warn that Moscow is testing NATO’s resolve. NATO’s eastern flank remains on high alert, with reinforced air defense systems and intensified patrols.
Although geographically distant, Greece is closely monitoring developments, as Baltic instability affects Europe’s broader security environment. Diplomatic sources note that such incidents could reshape alliances and increase pressure for greater European military readiness.
