Recent reports suggest that Russian aircraft entered NATO airspace in Poland, Denmark, and Estonia, sparking one of the most serious confrontations in months. The Kremlin has issued a stark warning: if its planes are shot down, “there will be war.”
According to Bloomberg, ambassadors from the UK, France, and Germany met with Russian officials in Moscow after a 12-minute incursion of MiG-31 fighters into Estonian airspace. NATO states made it clear that any repeat violation could result in Russian warplanes being intercepted or destroyed. Britain also emphasized that it is “ready to robustly defend our airspace against any incursion.”
Russia, however, denied that the incursion was intentional. Officials reportedly argued that the flight was linked to Ukrainian strikes on Crimea, which Moscow insists were carried out with NATO support.
Meanwhile, tensions have grown beyond Europe. The US scrambled F-16 fighter jets and KC-135 tankers after Russian Tu-95 nuclear bombers, escorted by Su-35 and Su-30 fighters, carried out 14-hour flights near Alaska. The Russian defense ministry admitted its aircraft were followed by “fighter jets of foreign states” during the mission.
The confrontation hasn’t been limited to fighter jets. Russia is suspected of sending drones over Poland and Denmark, buzzing a Polish oil platform in the Baltic, and disrupting air travel with drone activity. Both Poland and Estonia invoked NATO’s Article 4, which requires allies to consult when a member state feels threatened. Denmark is also considering triggering the same clause.
In response to rising risks, Poland urged its citizens in Belarus a close Russian ally to leave immediately, warning that evacuation could become “impossible” if the security situation worsens.
Russia’s rhetoric has escalated further. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed that NATO and the EU had already “declared war” on Moscow by backing Ukraine. The Kremlin also alleged that while Donald Trump criticizes Russia publicly, he may be sending different signals privately through “closed channels.”
This ongoing standoff highlights how easily military maneuvers, drone activity, and miscalculations could trigger a wider conflict between NATO and Russia.
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