Overview

• Estonia triggered Article 4 consultations after alleging three Russian MiG-31s breached its airspace on September 19 during a flight toward Kaliningrad.
• NATO said allied fighters intercepted and escorted the aircraft without escalation and assessed that the planes posed no immediate danger.
• A post-meeting communiqué stated Russia’s actions put lives at risk and must stop, and it affirmed that allies reserve the right to choose necessary defensive measures.
• The Russian Defense Ministry denied any violation, saying the jets followed an approved route in line with international rules and did not cross into Estonian airspace.
• Rutte praised allied aviation’s response and said support for Ukraine will continue, as separate probes into other recent drone incidents, including in Denmark, remain underway without public attribution.