TALLINN, Sept 20 (Reuters): Three Russian military jets violated NATO member Estonia's airspace for 12 minutes on Friday in an "unprecedentedly brazen" incursion, its government said, the latest in a series of recent military actions by Russia that have rattled the alliance.
With tensions already high because of the war in Ukraine, the incursion came just over a week after more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on the night of Sept 9-10. That prompted NATO jets to down some of them and Western officials to say Russia was testing the alliance's readiness and resolve.
It also occurred three days after Russia and Belarus ended their "Zapad-2025" joint military exercises, which included the rehearsal of the launch of Russian nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry on Friday denied that three of its MiG-31 fighter jets had illegally entered Estonian airspace, after NATO scrambled aircraft to intercept and warn them off.
The ministry said the jets were on a "scheduled flight... in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states, as confirmed by objective monitoring".
Tallinn said the three MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace without permission and stayed for a total of 12 minutes before they were forced to withdraw, a period during which the high-speed aircraft could have traversed broad swaths of the country.
"Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times already this year, which is unacceptable in itself, but today's violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen," said Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its jets routinely fly over the Baltic Sea between mainland Russia and its exclave of Kaliningrad.
Separately, Poland said on Friday two Russian fighter jets violated the safety zone of the Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea. US President Donald Trump said late on Friday afternoon he had not been briefed on the incident but expected he would be later.
"I don't love it. I don't like when that happens," Trump told reporters when asked if he saw the incursion by Russian jets as a threat to NATO. "Could be big trouble. I'll let you know later."
Trump's administration is being closely watched for a response.
Washington had little to say about the drone incursion into Poland and did not participate directly in fending it off, triggering anxiety among NATO members, who have questioned Trump's commitment to their defense in case of a Russian attack. NATO said Russia was reckless.
"Earlier today, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace. NATO responded immediately and intercepted the Russian aircraft. This is yet another example of reckless Russian behaviour and NATO's ability to respond," a NATO spokesperson said on X.
Europeans quickly responded to the Russian jet incident on Friday. "This was no accident," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas - a former Estonian prime minister - said in comments relayed by a spokesperson.
Estonia said it had summoned the top Russian diplomat in the country to lodge a protest and deliver a note.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said his country had decided to ask NATO to open consultations under Article 4 of the alliance's treaty, and that the Russian jets flew around 5 nautical miles (9 km) into NATO airspace before Italian F-35s, currently stationed at a base in Estonia, pushed them out.
NATO polices the airspace of Estonia and other Baltic nations in its "Baltic Sentry" mission. "We consider it essential to consult with our Allies to ensure shared situational awareness and to agree on our next joint steps. The entire Alliance is treating this incident seriously," Michal said.
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