NATO Ready to Defend Every Inch of Territory, Says Mark Rutte
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte affirmed the alliance's readiness to defend all territory after multiple Russian airspace violations. Estonia and Poland invoked Article 4 consultations following recent incidents. Rutte cautioned it's too early to connect separate drone sightings in Denmark and Norway to previous violations.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte declared the alliance stands ready to defend every inch of NATO territory following multiple Russian airspace violations. Rutte made the statement during a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.
The North Atlantic Council, NATO's principal decision-making body, convened to discuss responses to repeated incursions by Russian military aircraft into allied airspace. In a written statement, the council promised NATO's response would "remain powerful."
"Russia should not doubt: NATO and allies will, in accordance with international law, use all necessary military and non-military tools to defend ourselves and deter all threats from all directions," the statement read.
Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace on Friday, remaining for twelve minutes according to Estonian officials. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhna called the intrusion "an exceptional provocation" and noted it was Russia's fourth violation of Estonian airspace this year.
Both Estonia and Poland invoked NATO's Article 4 following recent incidents, triggering emergency consultations among allies when a member's security is threatened. Poland invoked Article 4 after 20 Russian drones crossed its border earlier in September. Romania also reported a Russian drone violation last month.
The North Atlantic Council stated Russia bears "full responsibility for these actions, which are escalatory, risk miscalculations and endanger lives. They must cease."
Separate drone sightings occurred Monday evening near Copenhagen Airport in Denmark and in Oslo, Norway. Rutte said it's too early to determine if these incidents connect to previous Russian violations.
"Denmark is currently investigating the cause of the event. It's too early to say anything about whether there's a connection," Rutte told reporters.
NATO launched Operation Eastern Sentry on September 12 to strengthen the alliance's eastern flank defenses. The operation responds to increasing military activity along NATO's borders with Russia.