NATO mulls having a full air defence mission to secure Baltic skies

NATO could transform the current mission monitoring the airspace over its eastern flank into a full defensive operation following repeated incursions by Russian drones and jets, a top military officer said on Saturday.

Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chairman of the 32-member alliance’s Military Committee, said after a meeting of chiefs-of-staff in Riga that such a move could be an option once ongoing investigations are complete.

He cautioned that it is still too early to fully assess what actually happened during the recent airspace violations.

Converting the current air policing mission into an air defence mission could significantly bolster NATO’s capabilities on the eastern flank. New rules of engagement would likely make it easier to intercept or shoot down intruding aircraft.

NATO countries met Tuesday at Estonia’s request after three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets flew through Estonian airspace over the Baltic Sea for roughly 12 minutes. In a subsequent statement, the military alliance warned of potential force in response to further violations.

Warsaw had earlier reported that Russian drones had entered Polish airspace on September 9.

The NATO Baltic Air Policing mission has been in place since 2004, designed to safeguard the airspace of alliance partners in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia during peacetime. NATO members provide rotating fighter jets for the mission, as the Baltic states themselves do not have suitable aircraft.