NATO member states are discussing loosening restrictions for pilots patrolling the Alliance’s eastern border, allowing them to open fire on aerial targets that enter the airspace of NATO countries, Financial Times (FT) reported, citing sources (as summarized by RBC on October 9).
The debate over a more aggressive approach was initiated by Eastern European nations with support from France and the United Kingdom. Other proposals under discussion include arming reconnaissance drones used to monitor Russian military activity, as well as conducting NATO military exercises along the Russian border—particularly in remote and weakly protected areas.
One of the key issues is the creation of unified rules for the use of force along NATO’s eastern flank, FT’s sources explained. According to them,
some NATO members require pilots to visually confirm a threat before opening fire, while others allow their pilots to act based on radar data or a perceived danger determined by the direction or speed of the aerial target.
The proposals aim to increase the costs of Russia’s “hybrid warfare” and to develop concrete countermeasures against airspace violations by drones and fighter jets, NATO officials told FT.
In September, unidentified drones were detected in the airspace of several NATO countries. On September 10, Poland reported that a “large number of Russian drones” had entered its airspace. Denmark reported drone activity over its territory on September 22 and 25. On September 22, drones were also observed over Norway, prompting a temporary suspension of operations at Oslo Airport. Estonia stated that Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace in September.
Moscow denies any involvement in airspace violations.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that three MiG-31 aircraft carried out a scheduled flight from Karelia to the Kaliningrad region and did not breach Estonian airspace. Moscow also rejects accusations of involvement in the drone incidents.
