NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance had acted “quickly and decisively” after recent Russian incursions into allied airspace, rejecting criticism that it is unprepared for Moscow’s tactics.
• On Friday (Sep. 9), NATO jets intercepted three Russian MiG-31s in Estonian airspace.
• Earlier this month, drones entered Poland and Romania, triggering consultations under Article 4.
• Norway and Denmark also reported drone activity, briefly closing airports in Oslo and Copenhagen.
In response, NATO announced Eastern Sentry, a mission to strengthen the eastern flank. Rutte acknowledged the challenge of using costly missiles against low-cost drones, stressing the need for sustainable defence.
Poland and Sweden have warned they will shoot down Russian aircraft, while Estonia signalled readiness to host British nuclear-capable jets. Russia denied all violations, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov citing a lack of evidence.
Rutte confirmed NATO’s engagement rules remain unchanged, but pledged that allies “will do what is necessary to defend our cities, people, and infrastructure.”
Source: POLITICO
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