Russia has violated the airspace of several NATO countries recently. Security reporter John Granlund from Swedish public broadcaster SVT says this shows Russia is entering an increasingly escalatory path.
On Tuesday, the North Atlantic Council discussed how to respond to violations of Estonian, Polish, and Romanian airspace. NATO's highest decision-making body stated the alliance's response will continue to be powerful.
What does Russia's behavior mean for European security? Granlund notes the 12-minute flight over Estonia near capital Tallinn carries particular significance. Russia used fighter jets that can carry nuclear weapons in some configurations.
Russia appears to be testing increasingly serious actions against NATO, forcing the alliance to respond. Granlund warns Russia might be attempting to trigger a NATO reaction, calling this a dangerous path.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently stated readiness to defend every inch of NATO territory. The alliance faces complex security challenges in the Baltic region.
Estonia, a NATO member since 2004, shares a border with Russia. Airspace violations create tension in the strategically important Baltic Sea area.