At the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Türkiye, on 14 and 15 May, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that the incident this week, when a fighter jet of the Russian Federation violated Estonian airspace to protect a shadow fleet tanker, is a real example of the serious threat Russia poses to NATO as a whole.
“On the evening of 13 May, Estonia exercised its right to inspect a shadow fleet vessel passing through its exclusive economic zone, the unflagged and uninsured Argent/Jaguar, which is sanctioned by the United Kingdom,” Tsahkna said. “Russia responded dangerously aggressively by accompanying the shadow fleet tanker with a fighter jet, which violated Estonian airspace in the process. This case is yet another example proving that Russia poses a serious threat not only with its military action in Ukraine, but much more broadly.”
The foreign minister said that accordingly, strengthening the Allies’ deterrence and defence posture is of key importance.
“A new and ambitious target level for defence spending must be agreed at NATO’s June summit in The Hague, because only through increased investments in defence can the Allies fill the existing capability gaps and deter Russia, which poses a threat to the entire Alliance,” Tsahkna said, adding that Estonia will lead by example with defence spending rising to 5.4% of GDP next year.
In addition to reinforced deterrence and defence posture, the continued strengthening of cooperation between North American and European Allies and supporting Ukraine was also discussed in Türkiye.
“Russia has not agreed to a truce or direct negotiations with the president of Ukraine; instead, it has continued its brutal attacks and delaying tactics. Russia continues on the course of aggression, as it still hopes to achieve its goals, that is, to destroy Ukraine and restructure Europe’s security architecture,” Tsahkna said. “By stepping up sanctions, Russia must be pressured into abandoning these goals and ending the war.”