The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Friday the incursion of Russian military aircraft into Estonian airspace, expressing its “solidarity” with the nation.
“Portugal strongly condemns Russia’s violation of Estonian airspace. This is the third act of provocation from Russia in European Union airspace within just a few days,” wrote the department headed by Paulo Rangel on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
It added, “Portugal stands in solidarity with Estonia. Russian aggression must come to an end.”
The Estonian government reported the entry of three Russian fighter jets into its airspace, where they allegedly stayed without permission for 12 minutes, and has summoned the Moscow representative.
Portugal condemns Russia’s violation of Estonian airspace. This is the third act of provocation from Russia in European Union airspace within just a few days.
🇵🇹 stands in solidarity with 🇪🇪. Russian aggression must end.
— Negócios Estrangeiros PT (@nestrangeiro_pt) September 19, 2025
Meanwhile, NATO criticized this as another “example of dangerous behavior” by Russia, stating that it had intercepted the aircraft.
“Earlier today, Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace. NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] responded immediately and intercepted the aircraft,” wrote NATO spokesperson Allison Hart on social media.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, noted that “the violation of Estonian airspace by Russian military aircraft is an extremely dangerous provocation” on social media.
The incident, occurring in the country of the European chief diplomat and former Estonian Prime Minister, “further escalates tensions in the region,” she noted in the same social media post. Promising “full solidarity” from the EU, Kaja Kallas asserted that the bloc “cannot show weakness.”
Shortly after, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen took to social media to declare that the EU “will respond to every provocation with determination.”
“As tensions rise, so will our pressure,” she vowed.
European Council President António Costa wrote that the EU stands “firmly in solidarity” with Tallinn, criticizing the “unacceptable violation” of Estonian airspace.
According to Reuters, citing European and NATO sources, a Russian military fighter jet breached Estonian airspace on the afternoon of this Friday. The aircraft reportedly flew for 12 minutes within the country.
Carolina Pereira Soares with Lusa | 15:34 – 19/09/2025
The former Prime Minister of Portugal called for strengthening the EU’s “eastern flank” to counter these threats and stated that this and other similar incidents, as well as the response to Russian provocations, would be topics at the upcoming informal European Council meeting in early October in Copenhagen, Denmark.
This incident marks the third in the last two weeks, following the invasion of Polish airspace by Russian drones, which prompted an intervention by the Polish Air Force, and a similar episode in Romania.
At the time, NATO also pledged full support to countries affected by these temporary incursions into their airspace.
The United States of America also vowed to defend “every inch” of NATO territory, of which these three Eastern European countries are part.
