NATO's North Atlantic Council will meet on Tuesday to discuss the violation of Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets, Reuters reports, citing two officials familiar with the matter. So far, it was only known that the meeting would take place early next week, BTA reports.
According to Estonia, on Friday, three Russian Air Force MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace without permission. The incident occurred in the area of Vaindlo, a small island in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea.
Estonia has decided to request consultations under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty over the incident, Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced. Article 4 stipulates that NATO members consult when they consider that their territory, political independence or security is threatened. Discussions in the North Atlantic Council can lead to joint decisions or actions.
Moscow claims that the three MiG-31s were on a scheduled flight from Karelia to the Kaliningrad region and that Estonian airspace was not violated. Tallinn, however, rejected these allegations.
Tomorrow, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on the issue.
A week earlier, on the night of September 9-10, Polish and allied forces shot down Russian drones over NATO territory for the first time. At least 19 drones entered over Poland, which shot them down with the support of military aircraft from other Alliance countries.