Russia’s air incursions into NATO airspace spur calls for stronger deterrence

Estonian authorities said Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace in the latest escalation on NATO's eastern flank, marking the second time in two weeks that Russian aircraft entered the airspace of a NATO member. The intrusion came nine days after 19 Russian drones swarmed Polish airspace, according to Western officials familiar with the incidents. Moscow has denied any intentional violations of NATO airspace.

Estonia's defense ministry described the Estonian incursion as a deliberate provocation, while the Kremlin denies intentional violations. U.S. and allied officials say the incidents appear to be deliberate actions intended to test the alliance and to signal that Moscow believes it can act with impunity in Ukraine and beyond.

NATO has accelerated consultations on a coordinated response and reinforced defenses along its eastern flank. Allies are weighing options to deter further provocations, including preserving a robust U.S. military presence in the Baltic states and strengthening defensive capabilities at the alliance's borders. Analysts say the incidents appear designed to test NATO's readiness and political resolve as Moscow pursues broader objectives in Ukraine and elsewhere. The Kremlin has sought to frame the episodes as routine operations rather than provocations.

Looking ahead, NATO's leaders are expected to finalize a more unified approach, with potential measures to deter further incursions and reassure member states along the eastern frontier. The incidents come as negotiations over Ukraine's defense and the broader European security architecture continue, with Western officials insisting on credible security guarantees for Kyiv.