NATO warns Russia it will use all means to defend airspace after breaches

NATO on Tuesday warned Russia it would employ all means to defend allied airspace after a Russian drone downing in Poland earlier this month and Estonia’s report of unauthorized Russian fighter jet incursions. The 32-member alliance said it would use all necessary military and non-military tools to defend itself and deter threats from all directions, and it stressed its commitment to the principle that an attack on one ally is an attack on all.

NATO said it would continue to respond in the manner, timing, and domain of its choosing, and it underscored Article 5 in its messaging. “Russia should be in no doubt: NATO and Allies 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 alliance said in a statement. Asked whether suspect aircraft would be shot down, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said such actions would depend on available intelligence regarding the threat posed by the aircraft, including questions of intent, armaments and potential risk to allies, forces, civilians or infrastructure. The alliance also reiterated that it would act in accordance with its own assessments of risk and necessity.

The broad warning comes as Estonia said three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes without authorization last week, a charge Russia has rejected. The Sept. 10 incident in Poland marked the first direct encounter between NATO and Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, jolting European leaders and prompting fresh questions about NATO’s preparedness. Estonia’s report led the alliance to consider formal consultations under Article 4, which allows any member to seek a meeting if it believes its territorial integrity or security is threatened. Rutte said the call for talks was “absolutely warranted.” He also said it was too early to determine whether a drone incident at Copenhagen Airport, overnight, which shut down airspace around Scandinavia’s largest airport for hours, was linked to Russia.

In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Warsaw would “without discussion” shoot down flying objects when they violate Polish territory, a stance that reflects a willingness to take immediate action should incursions recur. The remarks come as European leaders weigh tougher responses to Moscow’s pressure campaigns and the broader context of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The episodes have fed debates about NATO’s credibility and deterrence as Russia presses what Western officials describe as testing European borders. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, speaking at the United Nations, said the incidents demonstrate that Russia is testing European borders and challenging the security of Europe as a whole. She cautioned that Moscow could continue such provocations unless the alliance steadies its resolve.

The incidents also intersect with broader regional security dynamics, including the role of the United States. Some European officials have urged greater intra-Atlantic burden-sharing, while others have warned that rhetoric about sanctions should translate into concrete, coordinated actions. Still, threats of tough U.S. sanctions against Russia have lingered as political warnings rather than decisive measures.

As this year unfolds, NATO and its allies face the challenge of aligning rapid, credible deterrence with practical mechanisms to deter and respond to airspace breaches, drone intrusions, and other provocations tied to Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Observers note that synchronization across alliance members will be crucial as incidents accumulate and as Russia continues to test responses, limits, and the alliance’s unity.