Russian Incursions on NATO Airspace
Hasini Maddapu
Staff Writer
Russia has once again tested the patience and balance of Europe. On the night of September 9 , Poland reported Russian drones violating its airspace. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) viewed it as a threat to its airspace and sent its fighter jets to shoot the drones. Simultaneously, strikes occurred in Ukraine by the Kremlin, causing NATO to fear that the peace efforts were not making a huge difference. Furthermore, on September 19, there were three Russian MIG-31 fighter jets that entered Estonian airspace with no communication with air traffic control. Al Jazeera reports NATO and Estonia have been accusing Russia of violating its airspace. Specifically, Estonia has requested for Article 4 Consultations. Under Article 4, any member of NATO can summon urgent talks when it believes that its territory, security, or independence is in danger. Russia has repeatedly denied the accusations, but NATO thinks otherwise.
These incursions are important for various reasons but first we need to understand the context. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, NATO expanded the presence of its troops, security, and air defense. NATO states that it has also expanded when Sweden and Finland joined the alliance. However, there were new concerns for the Arctic and Baltic regions. Since then, Moscow had constantly tried to test NATO through cybersecurity attacks or violations of NATO’s airspace. The constant theme in these tests is the fact that Russia brought concerns, but it never triggered military response. However, by flying over Polish airspace, Russia sends the message that NATO’s borders are not untouchable. The Baltic Security Foundation describes how The Baltic region is very significant because of its geography. Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, although small, are vital because they are on NATO’s front lines. In addition, their airspace is close to Kaliningrad and the mainland which hold Russia’s bases. Russia, however, has been taking advantage of this reason to test if NATO is powerful enough to protect its members.
These incursions should not be underestimated. Estonia invoking Article 4 consultations brings seriousness and urgency. Invoking Article 4 shows the unity of NATO and that Estonia is not standing alone. The Associated Press reports that NATO had stated, “Russia should be in no doubt: NATO and Allies will employ, in accordance with international law, all necessary military and non-military tools to defend ourselves and deter all threats from all directions.” This creates a problem for Russia because even if the small incursions bring concern and fear to NATO, NATO is developing stronger defensive measures. Despite these advantages, NATO faces challenges on how to respond back. If NATO overreacts, there could be a possibility of direct confrontation which the member states want to avoid. However, if it does not react on a strong level, Moscow will continue to test NATO. This dilemma raises questions of whether these defensive measures are enough and whether they are sufficient to protect the security of Europe.
Soon, NATO should improve its air defense in Eastern Europe and NATO should stand strong with one voice. If NATO appears to be confused or divided, Russia may interpret this as a weakness and can take an advantage of this. NATO’s focus is not to provoke but to deter its enemies. The question remains whether NATO can develop itself to combat frequent pressure and weaken Russia’s strategy of provocation.
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