On September 24, Finnish and Swedish fighter jets took to the skies for the first time, tasked with intercepting Russian military aircraft that were flying over the Gulf of Finland. This incident represents a significant step in Nordic defense collaboration, particularly in light of the rising tensions with Russia.
This operation took place just a day before Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed European concerns about threats posed by Russia, even ridiculing Estonia’s new defense minister over the country’s preparations for a possible attack.
According to the Swedish Armed Forces, Finnish F/A-18 Hornets and Swedish JAS 39 Gripens were deployed after Russian planes were identified in international airspace.
The Russian aircraft involved included a Tu-134 transport plane, MiG-31 interceptors which are capable of detecting and responding to long-range threats, as well as Su-30 fighter jets, designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman, who commands the Swedish Air Force, commented on the operation, stating, “This is what close cooperation looks like in practice.” He emphasized that years of building trust and personal relationships have allowed the two nations to operate effectively together.
Concerns about Russian military maneuvers near NATO’s eastern borders have intensified, particularly following multiple airspace violations. Notably, there have been reported incidents involving Russian drones breaching Polish airspace, a Mi-8 helicopter crossing from Kaliningrad into Poland, and Russian aircraft entering Estonian airspace just prior to interception by NATO forces on September 18.
In Estonia, the newly appointed Defense Minister Martin Herem warned that Russia could potentially employ military force against Estonia within a year. He stressed that Estonia needs to evaluate whether its defenses are adequate for such a possibility. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kristen Michal indicated that the government is prepared to close border crossings if security assessments warrant such actions.
Addressing concerns at the St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum, Putin downplayed the warnings from European officials, stating, “We are not preparing for military action against Europe.” He criticized the rhetoric surrounding the potential threats, referring to it in a dismissive manner.
Estonia, situated across the Gulf of Finland from Finland, forms part of NATO’s increasingly integrated defense strategy in the northern and eastern regions, particularly after Finland joined NATO in April 2023, followed by Sweden in March 2024. Estonia has been a NATO member since 2004, after regaining independence from the Soviet Union.
The Baltic Sea area has been on high alert due to previous incidents related to sabotage and hybrid threats that have escalated since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. NATO has indicated that it is enhancing protective measures for its eastern members, focusing on resilience against perceived Russian aggression, including cyberattacks and airspace violations.
The alliance maintains that its military presence in the east is purely defensive, asserting readiness to support any member state under threat. Recently, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the intertwined nature of U.S. and European interests, indicating a strong response would follow if Russia acts recklessly.
European intelligence reports from September 24 suggested that Russia may probe NATO’s defenses, with Denmark’s Defense Intelligence Service noting a “low but growing” risk of a limited military attack against a NATO country in the near future. They indicated that while a full-scale invasion remains unlikely, it’s no longer an impossibility.
