NATO on alert as Russian jets breach Estonian airspace; UNSC to hold emergency talks

Three Russian MiG-31 fighters penetrated Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland on Friday, prompting NATO to scramble Italian F-35 jets on air-defense duty in the Baltic region with Swedish and Finnish support. Moscow denied the incident. Estonia called the intrusion brazen and unacceptable and asked the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency session on Monday, the first time in 34 years that the country has sought such a meeting. The session is slated to begin at 15:00 BST.

Estonia's move underscored the fragile stability on Europe’s eastern flank and drew swift international reaction. Czech President Petr Pavel warned that NATO must be ready to respond firmly to airspace violations, even if that means shooting down offending aircraft, arguing that there must be consequences for crossing a red line. The episode has heightened concerns among EU and NATO capitals about the risk of a broader confrontation, and it follows earlier regional tensions, including reports that Russian drones crossed into Poland during missile strikes on Ukraine.

Estonia's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, said the incident fits a broader pattern of escalation by Russia and urged a united international response. He said the Security Council session would discuss what constitutes NATO airspace and how member states should respond to future intrusions. The international focus on escalation comes as Western officials have warned Moscow is testing the alliance’s red lines and as allied leaders monitor whether the incident will trigger further provocative actions.

Poland reported that Russian drones crossed into its airspace during missile strikes on Ukraine, an incident Warsaw called an act of aggression and officials warned could have sparked a direct clash between NATO and Russia. Western capitals have repeatedly warned Moscow that such provocations carry consequences.

U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the episode, saying the United States would back Poland and the Baltic states if the crisis worsened and noting he had been briefed on the Estonian incursion. His remarks reflect a tougher posture toward Moscow than in earlier months when he had downplayed similar events.

The last time a NATO member shot down a Russian aircraft was in November 2015, when Turkey downed a Russian Su-24 near the Syria–Turkey border after it briefly entered Turkish airspace and ignored repeated radio warnings. The incident triggered a major diplomatic crisis, with Moscow recalling its ambassador and imposing sanctions, while Turkey said the jet had posed an imminent threat. Relations between the two countries later began to thaw, aided by broader regional dynamics and diplomacy.

Estonia’s leadership has emphasized that unity among allies is essential to deter further violations and to protect NATO skies, as Brussels and Washington coordinate responses and monitor developments in the region.