Article 4 of the NATO treaty, invoked for the second time in less than ten days, after incidents with Russian aircraft. What provides
Kinzhal Russian hypersonic missile, along with the MIG-31 bearer plane. Photo: East2west News / Willwest News / Profimedia
Estonia has officially applied for NATO consultations under Article 4, after violating its air space by Russia, a gesture made by Poland almost ten days ago, when the national airspace was violated by at least 19 Russian drones, announced Prime Minister Kristen Michal, according to The Guardian,
In a message on the X platform, he confirmed that three Russian MIG-31 fighter jets entered the Estonian airspace and were intercepted by NATO devices, being forced to withdraw. “
“Such a violation is completely unacceptable,” Michal said.
The incident took place on Friday morning, when three Russian MIG-31 fighter jets entered the Eston airspace near the island of Vaindloo. The aircraft had no flight plans, and their transponents were stopped. They revolved the airspace of the Baltic Country for almost 12 minutes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia convened on Russia's business to send you a protest note to what happened.
“Russia has violated Estonia's airspace already four times this year, which is unacceptable in itself. But today's foray, involving three fighter jets that have entered our air space, is unprecedented,” said Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
“Russia's biggest attempts to test borders and its growing aggressiveness must be encountered with a rapid intensification of political and economic pressure,” added the head of Estone diplomacy.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Friday that the reaction of the Alliance was “fast and firm”, after a discussion with Estonia Prime Minister on the violation of the Eston airspace by Russian aircraft.
“The NATO response, in the Eastern Sentry operation, was fast and decisive,” Rutte said on social networks.
Article 4 of the Treaty provides:
“The parties will consult each other whenever, in the opinion of any of them, territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened.”
Poland decided, after the incursion of Russian drones on September 10, not to invoke Article 5 of the NATO treaty (collective defense clause), and not article 4. This clause requires an “armed attack”, a threshold that is not officially defined, but which was considered to be met on September 11, 2001, the only time the article was activated. “We leave a maneuver margin for later,” explained the Polish Security expert Marek Swierczynski, quoted by The Economist.
The German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, in his turn, that the incursion of Russian drones was “an intentional challenge against NATO”, but not an attack in the military sense, because there were no victims or destruction. “We focus on strength and unity, but we will not be challenged,” he said.
On Friday, Poland and Russian aircraft have violated its air space.
