NATO Chief Slams Russian Escalation After Jet Interferes with Estonian Interception of Sanctioned Tanker
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has sharply criticized Russia’s military interference in a maritime enforcement operation led by Estonia, calling it a “troubling escalation” that underscores the Kremlin’s increasing boldness in the Baltic region.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to European Pravda.
Speaking at a press briefing during the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Rutte addressed an incident involving a Russian-linked oil tanker Jaguar, which was intercepted by Estonian naval forces while transiting international waters in the Gulf of Finland. The tanker, part of Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet” used to evade Western sanctions, allegedly refused to comply with Estonian orders before eventually exiting the country's exclusive economic zone.
What has raised particular alarm within the Alliance is Moscow’s military response: a Russian fighter jet reportedly breached Estonian airspace during the incident in an apparent attempt to shield the vessel from enforcement action.
“NATO and Estonia are in close and constant coordination. We are taking this situation seriously,” Rutte said. “Our presence in the Baltic region remains robust – from air policing to undersea infrastructure protection missions. We will not tolerate threats to Allied sovereignty.”
The Jaguar has been listed under UK sanctions and is widely believed to be transporting Russian oil in violation of embargoes imposed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the airspace violation, warning it signaled Moscow’s readiness to use military force to protect its illicit commercial operations. “This is a clear indication that Russia is prepared to militarize the defense of its shadow fleet,” he said.
The episode has renewed concerns about maritime security in the Baltic Sea – a critical region for NATO deterrence, energy routes, and subsea infrastructure. It also underscores the operational challenges posed by Russia’s circumvention tactics amid tightening international sanctions.
Rutte reiterated the Alliance’s commitment to defending its members, noting that NATO continues to adapt to hybrid and gray-zone threats that include both military provocations and covert economic maneuvers.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Estonia’s Navy attempted to detain a sanctioned Russia-bound oil tanker operating without a national flag on Tuesday, raising concerns over Moscow’s expanding use of the so-called “shadow fleet” to bypass Western sanctions.