Latvia backs Estonian call for NATO Article 4 consultations after latest Russian airspace violation

Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets flew over the Gulf of Finland near Vaindlo Island without permission on Friday morning. According to the Estonian Armed Forces General Staff, the aircraft were in Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, did not submit flight plans, and their signal receivers and transmitters were not turned on. When the Russian fighters crossed Estonian airspace, they did not establish radio contact with Estonian air traffic control. 

NATO jets from the Ämari airbase in Estonia (which also patrol over Latvia as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission) were reportedly scrambled to intercept the intruders and drive them out of NATO airspace.

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Russian embassy in Tallinn to submit a protest note regarding the violation.

"Russia has already violated Estonia's airspace four times this year, which is unacceptable in itself. But today's incursion, involving three fighter jets entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brutal," said Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna.

Previously, such airspace violations lasted less than a minute, but the two previous violations this year were approximately four minutes long, according to Estonian public media ERR.

The fact that high speed jets could linger in NATO airspace for as long as 12 minutes in the familiar and busy skies above the Gulf of Finland, as well as Russia's long history of such violations makes the notion of an accidental incursion ludicrous.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced that the Estonian government will request the activation of NATO's Article 4 – urgent consultations between member states.

Latvian officials including President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and other ministers were quick to express their support for Estonia and Article 4 consultations on social media.

"I expressed full Latvian support to Estonia’s request to hold NATO Article 4 consultations," wrote Siliņa.

For more coverage, follow Estonian public media ERR.