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NATO reacted appropriately to Russia’s recent violations of Estonia’s airspace but should expect further disruptive actions from Moscow, according to the Baltic country’s foreign minister.<\/p>\n
“I’m really sure that Russia will continue these provocations. It’s not about Estonia, it’s about NATO unity, as well as testing our capabilities, to also trans-Atlantic unity,” Margus Tsahkna told dpa on Friday on the sidelines of the Tallinn Digital Summit.<\/p>\n
In September, three Russian fighter jets entered the airspace of the EU and NATO member state for about 12 minutes.<\/p>\n
The government in Tallinn requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and consultations with its allies under Article 4 of the NATO Treaty.<\/p>\n
In a subsequent statement, the military alliance warned Russia against further border violations, threatening the use of force.<\/p>\n
“We reacted, I think, in a very solid way,” said Tsahkna, adding that NATO had shown that it functions well, including through the immediate interception of the Russian aircraft.<\/p>\n
“Everything was under control. There was no immediate direct military threat.”<\/p>\n
Even after the incident, the alliance showed political unity and determination, he noted.<\/p>\n
Estonia’s foreign minister joined Latvia and Lithuania in calling for NATO’s mission to monitor Baltic airspace to be converted into a genuine defence operation.<\/p>\n
“We are supporting this idea,” said Tsahkna, while stressing that it is not enough to simply change the mission’s name.<\/p>\n
Rather, it must be upgraded with improved air-defence capabilities, according to the minister.<\/p>\n
The governments in Riga and Vilnius had previously spoken out in favour of transforming NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission into an Air Defence Mission.<\/p>\n
Under the joint mission implemented in 2004, NATO allies take turns providing fighter jets and personnel for armed protection flights.<\/p>\n
The three Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which border Russia, do not have suitable aircraft of their own for the task.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n