NATO to Hold Talks Over Russian Jet Incursion into Estonia

TDT | Manama

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NATO ambassadors are set to hold talks on Tuesday following the violation of Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets, after Tallinn requested urgent consultations under Article 4 of the alliance’s founding treaty.

The incident occurred on Friday when three Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace for approximately 12 minutes, prompting Estonia to label it a dangerous provocation. Moscow, however, denied any wrongdoing.

This marks the third time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that Article 4 has been invoked, and only the ninth time in NATO’s 79-year history. Under Article 4, any member state can call emergency talks if it believes its territorial integrity, political independence, or security is under threat.

NATO’s collective defence is governed by Article 5, which commits the alliance to defend a member if it is attacked. That article has been invoked only once, following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

Estonia’s request for consultations comes less than two weeks after Poland triggered Article 4 following an alleged Russian drone incursion. In response, NATO has strengthened defences along its eastern flank to secure the frontier.

The United Nations Security Council is also expected to convene on Monday to discuss the Russian jet intrusion into Estonian airspace.