Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 21, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
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NATO to meet Tuesday to discuss Russia's violation of Estonian airspace, involving three MiG-31 jets. Estonia calls it an 'unprecedentedly brazen' act.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -NATO's North Atlantic Council will meet on Tuesday to discuss Russia's violation of Estonian airspace, two officials familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday, specifying the date that so far has only been described as early next week.
Tallinn said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission on Friday and stayed for a total of 12 minutes before they were forced to withdraw.
Estonia requested consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty after the incident that it described as an "unprecedentedly brazen" incursion.
Article 4 states that NATO members will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territory, political independence or security of any of them is threatened.
Russia's Defence Ministry denied its jets violated Estonian airspace, saying they flew over neutral waters.
With tensions already high because of the war in Ukraine, the incursion came just over a week after more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on the night of September 9-10.
That prompted NATO jets to down some of them and Western officials to say Russia was testing the alliance's readiness and resolve.
(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
NATO's North Atlantic Council will meet to discuss Russia's violation of Estonian airspace, where three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered without permission.
Article 4 states that NATO members will consult whenever the territory, political independence, or security of any member is threatened.
Russia's Defence Ministry denied the allegations, claiming that its jets flew over neutral waters and did not violate Estonian airspace.
The tensions escalated due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and a recent incident where more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace.
Estonia described the airspace incursion as an 'unprecedentedly brazen' act and requested consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty.
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