NATO says Russian incursions deterred but hybrid threats persist

Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus G. Grynkewich speaks during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (not pictured), at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium September 12, 2025. REUTERS/Omar Havana

THE HAGUE, (Reuters) -Russia appears to have been deterred by NATO's firm response last month to incursions into Polish and Estonian airspace, but Moscow is expected to continue testing boundaries, the U.S. general serving as NATO's top commander said on Tuesday.

Three Russian military jets violated Estonia's airspace for 12 minutes on September 19. NATO scrambled fighters and escorted them out, and Washington vowed to "defend every inch of NATO territory."