NATO to hold Article 4 talks after Russian jets detected over Estonia

NATO countries plan to meet early next week to discuss the airspace violation by Russian fighter jets reported by Estonia, a spokesman for the alliance told dpa on Saturday.

Consultations will be held under Article 4 of the NATO treaty, he said, without providing an exact date for the talks.

NATO’s Article 4 provides for talks among allies if a members feels that its “territorial integrity, political independence or security” is threatened.

Estonia requested the consultations after it detected three Russian MIG-31 fighter jets in its airspace without authorization early on Friday.

Russia denied Estonia’s account, stating that it had not violated any borders.

Poland also reported on Friday that two Russian fighter jets had approached a Polish drilling platform in the Baltic Sea at low altitude, violating a security zone.