Waltz urges Moscow to halt expansion as Russia's airspace incursions raise NATO alarm
New U.N. ambassador Mike Waltz calls for de-escalation and says NATO will defend every inch of allied territory after drone and jet incursions into Poland and Estonia.
The United States' newly confirmed ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, urged Moscow to urgently stop expanding its war into NATO after Russia conducted drones into Polish airspace and jets violated Estonian airspace in quick succession.
Speaking at a U.N. Security Council emergency briefing on Russia's latest escalation, Waltz cited that three armed military aircraft flew 10 nautical miles into Estonian airspace, coming within 15 miles of the Estonian Parliament.
This event, following a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace, creates the impression that Russia either wants to escalate and pull more countries into the conflict or does not have full control of those who operate its fighter planes and drones, Waltz said. "Either scenario is very disconcerting, given that Russia is obviously a nuclear power with global reach." He added that Washington would "defend every inch of NATO."
Nine days earlier, the Security Council met to discuss Russia's violation of Poland's airspace with drones, and the United States urged Russia to end the war in Ukraine and avoid actions that could escalate the conflict.
The remarks came as the U.N. General Assembly gathered in New York this week, with Washington signaling that it would stand by its NATO allies in the face of airspace violations.
The ambassador stressed that the United States would defend every inch of NATO territory and called on Russia to respect the sovereignty of its neighbors, while also pressing Moscow to negotiate directly with Kyiv to end the war.
The Senate confirmed Waltz to the post on Friday, nearly four months after leaving his prior role as Trump's national security adviser. He spoke as the United Nations General Assembly gathered in New York, underscoring the body's focus on Russia's aggression and its implications for global security.
In closing, Waltz reiterated that Washington wants de-escalation and a negotiated end to the war, emphasizing that the United States and its allies will defend NATO.
