Nato has cautioned Russia that it will use “all necessary military and non-military tools” to defend its members, as discussions intensify over whether the alliance should down Russian aircraft and drones that cross into its airspace. The warning came after Estonia invoked Article 4 of Nato’s founding treaty, which requires consultations if a member state believes its security or territorial integrity is under threat.
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The move followed an incident on Friday in which three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace for 12 minutes before being escorted out by Italian Nato pilots. Days earlier, around 20 Russian drones crossed into Polish skies, prompting Nato forces to intercept and shoot several of them down. Nato described these actions as “escalatory” and said they posed risks of miscalculation that endangered civilian lives.
The question of whether Nato should shoot down Russian jets has sparked debate. Former Czech president Petr Pavel and Estonian officials suggested stronger action, pointing to Turkey’s 2015 downing of a Russian bomber. However, security experts note that Nato’s long-standing air policing missions are designed primarily to monitor and escort, not to attack, in order to avoid dangerous escalation. Altering these rules would transform defensive patrols into full-scale operations, a decision requiring political approval across the alliance.
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Air policing has been a Nato practice since 1961, ensuring that countries lacking their own air combat forces – such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – are still protected. Fighter jets are deployed on rotation, with Italy currently leading the Baltic mission. While drones, as seen in the recent Polish incident, are easier to intercept and bring down without political controversy, the use of force against manned Russian aircraft would be far more complex and could significantly heighten tensions.
