Nato has to get tough with audacious Russian infringements

The latest evidence of increasing Russian aggression-tactics against Nato countries came with the infringement of Estonian airspace by three MiG-31 fighter aircraft. They spent twelve minutes over Estonia and then withdrew. At some point, instead of complaining after the event, Nato should stand up to Putin and warn him that if this type of airspace violation is repeated, his fighter jets will be shot down. He would do the same if a Nato fighter jet flew into Russian airspace. Putin is getting away with everything he tries, whether it be drones hurtling into Poland and Romania or troop build-ups close to the border with Finland. Finland, one of the newest members of Nato, is facing daily threats. Putin would love to punish Finland for joining Nato - after the Russian invasion of Ukraine - and just might launch some border incursion to test out Finnish defences. Why isn't Nato doing more to stamp on this deliberate aggression? The reason is, the alliance is desperately anxious not to make things worse by over-reacting. Shooting down a Russian fighter jet would be seen by the Kremlin as an outright attack on Russia. But so what? It would teach Moscow a lesson and perhaps force Putin to back off in future. Nobody wants a war between Nato and Russia. Putin certainly doesn't. But if he keeps on taunting the alliance and the alliance does nothing in return, he will see this as weakness and just carry on regardlesss.