Le Monde Analysis: Russia Tests NATO with Baltic Provocations

According to a Le Monde analysis, Russia is escalating its provocations towards NATO in the Baltic region, with unpredictable consequences.

The incident involving the violation of Estonian airspace by Russian fighter jets, just days after the intrusion of Russian drones into Poland, has raised concerns.

The Estonian Ministry of Defense reported that the Russian aircraft flew without a flight plan and without communication, prompting an immediate response from Italian F-35s.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna described the violation as the fifth of its kind in 2025 and called for stricter border controls and pressure against Russia.

The Alliance described the incident as "dangerous Russian behavior."

Meanwhile, Russia has completed the "Zapad" exercise in Belarus, while NATO is preparing for the "Neptune Strike" exercise in the Baltic and North Sea.

Moscow has denied the violation, but experts believe that such incidents are a message of power and a test of NATO's resilience.