The US President has given the order that any Russian aircraft which “violates” NATO airspace to be “shot down.”
Poland and Estonia have welcomed the decision as there is rising tension on NATO’s eastern flank which comes as there has been a series of incursions by Vladimir Putin’s warplanes, drones and missiles, the later has mainly been seen in Poland.
The Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski gave a two word response to Donald Trump, he said, “Roger that.”
The Estonian chairman of the Estonian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Marko Mihkelson said, “We got it,” signalling that they too will “shoot down” Russian aircraft.
This will raise the stakes across Europe and it is yet to be seen as to how Putin will respond to his jets being shot down.
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Margus Tsahkna Estonia’s foreign minister that the Baltic state is prepared and ready to intercept Russian warplanes or any other aerial object, if required and only if sovereign airspace is violated, he told the Kyiv Independent.
Tsahkna said, “The message must be unequivocal: future violations will meet a response — including, if necessary, the interception and downing of intruding aircraft.
“This is not only about defending Estonia’s borders — it’s about defending NATO’s borders.”
Over the weekend a former RAF commander has called on NATO to use “lethal force” on Russian jets that violates their airspace.
This comes as Estonian airspace was violated by three MIG-31 fighter jets on Friday a week after Poland’s incursion by dozens of Russian drones.
The former FAF commander has called on NATO to draw a “red line” and has suggested Russian aircraft must be shot down.
Air Marshal Greg Bagwell warned on X, “NATO needs to make some clear and public statements as to what it considers a red line.”
Air Marshal Bagwell served 36 years continued, “When it is crossed, the promised response is given, which should be lethal force after a clear warning.
“NATO has to be united now, with a clear and unequivocal statement about what will not be tolerated.
“Right now we don’t know where our red lines are, why should we expect Russia to? And if that red line is crossed then the response must be decisive and ruthless.”
He said that Russia violating Estonian airspace was “a deliberate provocation to sow doubt and confusion amongst NATO nations.”
He warned, “Today these aircraft were only armed with air-to-air missiles but tomorrow it could be something more sinister.
“Putin could have a few objectives here: one) to provoke a response in order to support his argument that Nato is the aggressor; two) to sow discord amongst Nato nations in formulating a response; three) to push the boundaries of the ‘grey zone’.
“Of course he could be trying all three!”
