Russian Aircrafts Soar Over Estonia's Skyspace, Marking an "Unparalleled" Infringement, According to Estonia
On September 19, a significant incident occurred as three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets breached Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland. The incursion, which lasted for a total of 12 minutes, marks the fourth time this year that Russia has violated Estonian airspace.
Following the incident, Estonian diplomatic services summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Russian embassy to protest against this new violation. This is an unprecedented move for Estonia, denounced as an "unprecedented violation" by the Estonian Foreign Ministry.
Three days later, the plane of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was subjected to "GPS jamming" in Bulgaria, with authorities pointing to "manifest Russian interference."
In response to these repeated violations, Estonian Prime Minister Michal Kristen announced that his country would ask NATO to activate Article 4 of the Atlantic Treaty. This provision calls for consultations between allies in the event of a threat to one of its members.
The Russian Defense Ministry has denied any violation of Estonian airspace, a claim that has been met with scepticism by many. However, other European countries have reported similar incidents. Romania and Poland, for instance, have accused Russia of flying drones over their territory in recent weeks.
The European Union and NATO have shown strong support for Estonia. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, condemned the incursions of Russian aircraft into Estonia and called them a new stage in the accumulation of provocations by Russia. Mark Rutte, NATO's secretary-general, praised a "quick and decisive" response from the organization.
Notably, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, expressed his disapproval of the situation, stating that he "doesn't like what's happening" in relation to the recent Russian incursion into Estonian airspace.
In a related incident, a Russian drone loaded with explosives was found in Lithuania earlier this month. This discovery further underscores the growing concern over Russian activities in the region.
Ukraine has also denounced an "escalation" by Moscow in relation to the Russian incursion into Estonian airspace. On August 28, the building of the EU's diplomatic mission in Kiev was hit by a Russian strike.
As the situation continues to unfold, Estonia and its allies remain vigilant, with Prime Minister Kristen expressing his full support for the Estonian authorities and a security posture being adopted in response to these repeated violations. The chargé d'affaires of the Russian Federation in Estonia, whose specific name is not mentioned in the sources, has been summoned to the Estonian Foreign Ministry to protest the incident.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region and the importance of collective defence in maintaining peace and stability.
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