FOREIGN POLICY/MILITARY/NATO/RUSSIA: “NATO jets intercepted three Russian military aircraft near Estonian airspace Tuesday [8-1-17], an alliance spokesman told CNN…
He added that Finnish jets also scrambled to intercept the Russian aircraft which he identified as two MiG-31 fighter jets and an AN-26 transport plane.
NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission involves allied aircraft securing the airspace of the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The incident between NATO and Russian military aircraft comes less than 24 hours after US Vice President Mike Pence visited Estonia where he reaffirmed America’s commitment to NATO’s collective defense clause in the face of Russian aggression.
‘No threat looms larger in the Baltic States than the specter of aggression from your unpredictable neighbor to the east,’ Pence said an appearance with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
‘Under President Donald Trump, the United States of America rejects any attempt to use force, threats, intimidation, or malign influence in the Baltic States or against any of our treaty allies,’ he added.
The incident also saw the Spanish aircraft ‘accidentally’ entering Finnish airspace.”
-Ryan Browne, “NATO jets intercept Russian aircraft near Estonian airspace,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, Aug. 1, 2017 12:37pm