Russian aggression is no longer confined to Ukraine; it is increasingly threatening the security of NATO member countries. During a Russian assault on Ukraine from September 7 to 8, Russian forces violated the airspace of two NATO member states—Latvia and Romania. A Russian drone crashed in eastern Latvia, while several others penetrated Romanian airspace over the Sabangia region for more than an hour, en route to Odessa. The authorities in both countries have expressed grave concern as these incidents represent a growing pattern of threats to the safety and security of NATO populations.
Russia’s use of Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones, known as Geran-2, for its terror operations underscores the broader implications of Iran’s involvement. The European Union, on September 9, described as “credible” the information provided by allies that Iran has supplied short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, which could further escalate Moscow’s war against Ukraine and pose a direct and imminent danger to all neighboring countries, including NATO members.
The Kremlin has not directly refuted these allegations but instead emphasized its close cooperation with Tehran in “the most sensitive areas,” while Iran has “strongly rejected” the claims. EU leaders have reaffirmed their unified stance, stating that the European Union will respond swiftly and in coordination with international partners, including through new and significant restrictive measures against Iran.
The United States has also voiced alarm over reports of Iranian missile transfers to Russia. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel named it as “dramatic escalation” of Iran’s support for Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, warning of “significant consequences” for Iran.
The international community must urgently impose the strictest possible sanctions on Iran to halt its support for Russia’s war machine, which threatens not only Ukraine but also the sovereignty and security of NATO members. Swift and decisive counteractions are essential to deter further Iranian complicity in Russian aggression and to uphold the security of the entire region.
