NATO is increasing its aerial presence in the Baltic Sea region, according to a report by Reuters. The news comes as several unidentified drones were observed near Denmark’s military installations and Copenhagen’s main airport on September 26, 2025. The drones forced the grounding of all commercial flights at Copenhagen’s largest hub, Kastrup Airport (CPH), for at least two hours.
Denmark stated that the drones spotted over its airports seem to have been operated by a “professional actor,” though there is no evidence of Russian involvement. Just last week, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace in what has been described as a “brazen” intrusion. The Russian MiG-31 fighters remained in Estonian airspace for nearly 12 minutes before Italian F-35s responded, forcing them to retreat.
“Enhanced Vigilance” In The Baltic Sea Region
In response to drone incursions in Denmark this week, a NATO spokesperson told Reuters in an emailed statement that the alliance “will conduct even more enhanced vigilance with new multi-domain assets in the Baltic Sea region.” The NATO spokesperson added that the new assets included “intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms and at least one air-defence frigate.”
Russian military incursions along the Eastern NATO flank borders have become increasingly bold over the past few weeks. The recent violation of Estonian airspace came shortly after 19 drones were detected in Polish airspace. Just hours after the breach into Estonian airspace, Poland’s border guard reported that two Russian fighter jets made a “low-level pass” over a Baltic Sea oil platform operated by the Polish company Petrobaltic.
Meanwhile, over the summer, multiple drones also violated Lithuanian airspace. In one instance, a Russian drone equipped with explosives entered the airspace and was later found at one of the country’s testing polygons in late July 2025, just a week after it had crossed into Lithuanian airspace from Belarus. Lithuanian authorities stated that the drone, which entered Lithuania and later crashed at the polygon, was a Russian drone that had been disoriented by Ukrainian defenses. In another instance, another Russian drone violated Lithuanian airspace in early July 2025. However, that drone crashed after traveling approximately one kilometer within Lithuanian territory.
Russia’s Incursions Addressed By The UN Security Council
During the United Nations Security Council meeting, European allies warned they would shoot down Russian fighter jets or drones involved in any further NATO airspace violations.
Poland, which recently suffered an incursion of a swarm of Russian drones into its airspace, warned: “Let me be clear. When flying objects violate our territory and enter Polish airspace, we will decide to shoot them down without discussion. There is no room for debate here,” Tusk said at a press conference.
The Polish leader added that he seeks complete assurance that NATO partners will view any breach identically, ensuring that should the conflict intensify, Poland will not stand alone.
Contrasting Moves From The US
The aggressive incursions into NATO’s eastern flank airspace come just more than a week after the United States lifted some sanctions on Belarus’ national airline, Belavia, a move seen as a step toward normalizing ties with one of Russia’s closest allies. The announcement also coincided with Belarus’ decision to release 52 political prisoners.
Together, these developments point to a possible warming of relations between the US and Belarus. Just last month, President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, even suggesting that a face-to-face meeting could follow.
Since 2021, Belavia has faced US and EU sanctions imposed after the forced diversion of Ryanair flight FR 4978 to Minsk, which led to the arrest of opposition journalist Raman Pratasevich. Belarus and its companies were also sanctioned for allowing Russia to use its territory to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions on the airline prohibited belavia from ordering and leasing Western-made aircraft as well as from accessing spare parts or maintenance services.
