Why Are Russian Aircraft Violating NATO Airspace?

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4.4 • 4.3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 September 2025

⏱️ 23 minutes

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Summary

NATO’s airspace is busy these days. And not in a good way. That’s especially true for member nations on the alliance’s eastern flank.

It’s not supposed to be that way. In recent weeks, states like Poland, Estonia, Romania, and Denmark have seen drones or other aircraft violate their airspace. In some cases, these airborne craft clearly identify they’re Russian in origin.

Multiple countries have called on NATO to consult about what to do next. So, what’s going on? What is Russia up to?

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for NPR and the following message comes from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
0:05.4	RWJF is a national philanthropy, working toward a future where health is no longer a privilege but a right.
0:12.1	Learn more at RWJF.org.
0:27.5	NATO's airspace is busy these days, not in a good way.
0:32.9	It's especially true for member nations on NATO's eastern flank near Russia.
0:40.0	In recent weeks, states like Poland, Estonia, Romania, Denmark have seen drones or other aircraft violate their airspace, and in some cases, there's evidence, they're Russian.
0:45.4	Multiple countries have called on NATO to consult about what to do next, and there's some talk
0:50.5	among NATO leaders and President Trump about how to respond to future incursions.
0:55.1	Here's the president during a sideline meeting at the UN last Tuesday.
0:59.1	Do you think that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace?
1:05.2	Yes, I do.
1:06.3	So what's going on with these incursions?
1:08.3	What is Russia up to?
1:09.8	And what can NATO, the U.S. and its European partners do in response?
1:14.4	We'll get into it after the break.
1:16.2	I'm Todd Zwillick, in for Jen White.
1:17.9	You're listening to the 1A podcast.
1:20.4	Back with more in just a moment.
1:26.4	Support for NPR and the following message comes from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
1:31.7	RWJF is a national philanthropy, working toward a future where health is no longer a privilege but a right.
1:38.4	Learn more at RWJF.org.
1:42.5	Joining us from London is Emma Burrough.
	...

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