Trump says US would defend Poland, Baltics if Russia escalates tensions

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday the United States would come to the aid of Poland and the Baltic states if Russia escalated aggression in the region, following an airspace violation over Estonia last week.

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before departing the White House, Washington, DC, USA, September 21, 2025.

Photo: EPA/JIM LO SCALZO / POOL

Asked by reporters outside the White House whether Washington would defend Poland and the Baltics if "Russia keeps accelerating," Trump replied: "Yeah, I would. I would."

The US president said he had been briefed on Friday’s incident in which Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace for about 12 minutes, prompting Tallinn to trigger NATO’s Article 4 mechanism for urgent consultations among allies.

"Yeah, we don’t like it," Trump said.

Meanwhile, Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Sunday that NATO must respond firmly and unequivocally to Russian provocations.

NATO’s North Atlantic Council is due to meet on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

(ał)

Source: PAP, IAR