NATO Military Chiefs Meet Riga Discuss Russian Airspace Violations Escalation

NATO military leaders convened in Riga to address recent escalations involving Russian incursions into NATO member states' airspace, particularly over the Baltics and Poland. Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone condemned these violations as reckless and life-threatening, holding Russia fully responsible, and called for strengthened air defense measures, including transforming Baltic air policing into a robust air defense mission with appropriate engagement rules. Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs emphasized the urgency of enhancing air defense capabilities and increasing defense spending to deter further provocations. In parallel, the European Union is pursuing a "drone wall" initiative to counter unmanned aerial incursions, drawing on Ukraine's experience with Russian drone attacks, though Russia has criticized these efforts as provocative and unfounded. Recent incidents, such as Russian MiG-31 jets violating Estonian airspace and performing prolonged incursions, have intensified calls within NATO and from U.S. President Donald Trump to adopt a more assertive posture, including the potential to shoot down violating aircraft. NATO officials reaffirmed their commitment to proportional but firm responses to defend member states and maintain deterrence against Russian aggression.