Nukes and Neighbors: Peskov Slams Estonia's NATO Jet Hosting Over Security Concerns
Russia voices concern over Estonia's decision to allow NATO fighter jets armed with nuclear weaponry within its territory.
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Russia's Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri Peskow, has blasted Estonia for its agreement to host nuclear-capable NATO jets, labeling it a potential direct threat to Russia's security. On a recent Friday briefing, Peskow poured cold water on the idea, stating, "Of course, that would be an immediate danger." He went on to criticize a string of "absurd thoughts" emanating from Baltic region politicians, including the leaders in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania [2][5][3].
Sharing a border with Russia, Estonia functions as a rotating base for NATO jets safeguarding Baltic airspace. Estonia's defense minister, Hanno Pevkur, put forth his country's position a day earlier to the Postimees agency, asserting that Estonia is ready to welcome nuclear-capable jets if necessary. He pointed out, "If some of them, regardless of their country of origin, have the capability to carry nuclear weapons, that has no impact on our stance on hosting F-35 jets."
In a previous development, NATO member Britain revealed plans to purchase no fewer than 12 American F-35A jets to join NATO's nuclear-centric aerial missions. These aircraft boast the ability to house nuclear weapons [2].
To put it bluntly, Moscow views the prospect of nuclear-ready aircraft stationed on Estonia's soil as a blatant provocation. The political landscape between Russia and the Baltic states is tense, to say the least, but Peskov maintains that relations between the two are practically non-existent, indicating that further deterioration would be limited [2][5].
Regardless, this shift in strategic position signals Estonia's firm commitment to NATO's deterrent strategy designed to confront Russia. From Moscow's perspective, this step merely escalates the already volatile security situation and deepens the abyss of mutual suspicion and hostility [2][3].
[2] The Diplomat | November 9, 2022, Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://thediplomat.com/2022/11/the-nato-nuclear-presence-in-the-baltics-deepens-russian-threat-perceptions
[3] Business Insider | March 16, 2023, Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-criticizes-estonia-hosting-nato-jets-nuclear-capable-2023-3
[5] Reuters | March 15, 2023, Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-criticizes-estonias-readiness-host-nato-nuclear-capable-fighter-jets-2023-03-15/
- The escalating tensions between Russia and the Baltic states, as evident in the debate over Estonia hosting nuclear-capable NATO jets, serves as a focal point in the general news and politics sectors, with implications for community policy and employment policy within the affected regions.
- As the war-and-conflicts situation in Europe unfolds, various nations, like Estonia, are reviewing their employment policies to ensure they are prepared to respond to evolving security threats, particularly in light of potential hostings of nuclear-capable jets.
