Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, prompting a strong reaction from NATO and comments from Donald Trump. The incident is part of a series of Russian provocations against NATO countries, leading to the activation of Article 4 twice in a week. Swedish Jas Gripen jets participated in the response, highlighting regional security concerns.
Trump Warns of 'Big Problems' After Russian Jets Violate Estonian Airspace
Trump Warns of 'Big Problems' After Russian Jets Violate Estonian Airspace
"Big problems." That could be the consequence after Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace for twelve minutes, according to Donald Trump. "I don't like it," he said.
Three fighter jets entered Estonian airspace and two were in a security zone around a Polish oil platform in the Baltic Sea.
Friday's violations are the latest in a series of Russian provocations against NATO countries, which have led to the activation of the defense alliance's Article 4 twice in less than a week.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the Russian violation from the Oval Office on Friday. His message was that he would "take a look" at the reports, according to Sky News.
"They will inform me shortly, so I will know more about what happened tonight or tomorrow," he said.
When asked to comment on the situation, he said:
"I don't like it. I don't like it when it happens. It could be big problems."
The violation in Estonia occurred on Friday morning, near the island of Vaindloo in the Gulf of Finland, about 60 kilometers from Tallinn.
The three fighter jets, of the MiG-31 type, were in the country's airspace for twelve minutes. They had neither a flight plan nor activated transponders, and did not communicate with Estonian air traffic control.
MiG-31 planes are deployed at a military base in the Kaliningrad region and can be equipped with hypersonic missiles, according to TT.
Swedish Jas Gripen
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart states that the defense alliance "reacted immediately and stopped the Russian planes."
"This is yet another example of Russia's reckless behavior and NATO's ability to respond," she writes on X.
Swedish Jas Gripen participated in the operation. They followed the Russian planes through international airspace towards Kaliningrad "to mark presence and maintain security in our vicinity," writes the Swedish Armed Forces in a press release.
Russia denies violating Estonian airspace. According to the Russian defense department, the planes were on "a regular flight entirely in accordance with international airspace rules and did not violate any other states' borders, as confirmed by objective monitoring."
Oil Platform in the Baltic Sea
Later on Friday, reports of another violation emerged. This time it involved a security zone around an oil and gas platform in the Baltic Sea.
"Two Russian fighter jets conducted a low pass over the Petrobaltic platform in the Baltic Sea. The platform's security zone was violated. The Polish armed forces and other relevant authorities have been notified," writes Poland's border police on X.