US Pledges Defence of Poland and Baltic States Amid Rising Russian Airspace Violations
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump affirmed Sunday the United States is prepared to defend Poland and the Baltic countries should Russia continue to escalate its aggressive actions. The statement follows a series of recent incidents involving Russian military aircraft and drones entering the airspace of NATO member states.
When questioned by reporters in the white House garden regarding U.S. protection of Poland and the Baltic states if Russia “further accelerates” its actions, Trump responded, “Yes, I would do it.”
The President also acknowledged recent tensions affecting Estonia, stating, “Yes, we don’t like it,” following a briefing related to the funeral of conservative public figure Charlie Kirk.
Estonia reported Friday that NATO intercepted three Russian MIG-31 fighter jets that entered its airspace without permission for approximately 12 minutes. moscow denied the accusations,asserting the flights were “strictly in accordance with international rules” and did not cross any borders.
Poland previously consulted with NATO allies after experiencing multiple violations of its airspace by Russian drones and fighter jets. On September 9th, Warsaw claimed 19-23 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, with at least four being shot down. Romania also reported a Russian drone violation of its airspace days later.
As NATO members, these countries can invoke Article 5 of the treaty, obligating all members to respond to aggression with military action. Estonia was formerly a Soviet republic, while Poland and Romania were satellite states under Soviet influence, contributing to their heightened sensitivity to Russian actions.
Trump, a frequent critic of NATO’s defense spending levels, is now advocating for stricter sanctions against Russia. He proposes NATO implement duties or sanctions on countries purchasing russian oil, thereby limiting indirect funding of the Kremlin’s war efforts, according to the New York Post.
Earlier this month, the parliaments of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania jointly appealed to the U.S. Congress, requesting support for the Baltic Safety initiative within the 2026 Defense Budget Act and its authorization in the National Defense Authorization Act.
