Estonia Open to Hosting British Nuclear-Capable Jets After Russian Airspace Violation

Estonia has signaled its readiness to host British F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, following recent Russian incursions into its airspace.

The Gaze reports this, referring to The Telegraph.

Asked whether Estonia would be ready to host British F-35As, Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur replied: “I am always open. The door is always open for allies.”

His comments came just days after two Russian MiG-31 fighters crossed into Estonian airspace near Tallinn on September 19, remaining there for about 12 minutes. 

Estonia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s chargé d’affaires to lodge a formal protest and subsequently invoked NATO’s Article 4, calling for consultations with allies. It was the first time Estonia has taken such a step since a Russian drone strike on Poland on September 10. Moscow, however, denied the incursion.

Analysts warn that Russia is likely to respond angrily to any prospect of nuclear-capable aircraft being stationed so close to its borders.

British F-35 fighter jets have been regularly deployed on a rotational basis at Estonia’s Ämari air base as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, which also covers Latvia and Lithuania. Sixth-generation aircraft are expected to join the mission later this decade.

Still, some UK military sources voiced caution, arguing there is “no need for strategic forward-based capability at a tactical location in Estonia.” 

They warned that deploying F-35As could act “less as a deterrent and more as a trigger for conflict,” while also exposing them to “high risk in the event of a first Russian strike.”

As The Gaze reported earlier, NATO’s North Atlantic Council will meet on Tuesday after Estonia invoked Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, citing an “unprecedentedly brazen” violation of its airspace by Russian fighter jets.