Episode 504: Probes and Provocations: Russia Tests Estonia – and NATO

Today, Les, Jamil, Andy, and Jess unpack a dangerous new escalation on NATO’s flank: three Russian MiG-31s flew through Estonian airspace for several minutes on Friday, a violation Tallinn says it can prove even as Moscow denies the incident and accuses Estonia of provocation. NATO jets — including Italian F-35s and fighters from Sweden and Finland — scrambled in response. The incursion follows recent Russian drone overflights of Poland and Romania and comes amid an uptick in attacks inside Ukraine, raising alarms across Europe about Moscow’s willingness to push boundaries.

How should the U.S. and NATO respond to airspace violations that creep toward Article 5 thresholds? Is the right answer a sharper military posture — more weapons and patrols for Ukraine and Baltic defenses — or tighter economic and diplomatic pressure? And with allies in Europe calling for stronger action, will Washington elevate its response or risk encouraging further Russian probing?

Check out these sources which informed our experts’ opinions: 

https://apnews.com/article/british-intelligence-mi6-russia-war-443df0c37ff2254fcc33d5425e3beaa6

@lestermunson

@NotTVJessJones

@jamil_n_jaffer

@andykeiser

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