(MENAFN) The United States on Saturday “strongly” criticized Russia’s infringement of Estonia’s airspace, reaffirming its backing for the NATO partner.

“We strongly condemn Russia’s violation of Estonia’s airspace. We stand firmly with our Estonian Allies and will resolutely defend all NATO territory,” the US Mission to NATO stated on the American social media platform, X.

Estonian officials alleged on Friday that Russia violated its skies when three MiG-31 warplanes crossed into its territory without authorization.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the intrusion happened near Vaindloo Island in the Baltic Sea, with the jets remaining in Estonian airspace for close to 12 minutes, according to a national agency.

As a reaction, the ministry called in the Russian chargé d’affaires in Tallinn to issue an official note of protest. Moscow has not yet provided a reply.

The episode was promptly condemned by NATO, the EU, and several European capitals.

NATO indicated that allied aircraft responded at once to intercept the Russian planes, describing the act as “reckless.”

Comparable violations were also recorded earlier this week in NATO member states Romania and Poland, where Russian drones entered their airspace.

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