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The Kremlin raised concerns about Estonia's intention to allow NATO allies to base their aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons on its soil.
The story began yesterday, when Estonia's defense minister, Hanno Pevkur, told the Postimees newspaper that his country, which borders Russia, was ready to host aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons if necessary.
Estonia is already a rotational base for NATO fighter jets tasked with protecting Baltic airspace.
"If some of them, regardless of their country of origin, have a dual-use capability to carry nuclear weapons, this does not in any way affect our stance on welcoming the F-35. Of course, we are ready to welcome our allies ," Pevkur said.
The comments came after the United Kingdom announced it would buy at least 12 F-35A jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads and that they would join NATO's nuclear air mission.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to the comments via Russia's Life news agency, saying: "Of course it would be an immediate danger . "
He said the statement was one of many "absurd opinions" expressed by politicians in the Baltic region, which includes Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. He added that Russia had virtually no relations with the Baltic republics.
Tensions between Russia and its Baltic neighbors have been rising since Vladimir Putin began his invasion of Ukraine, with the countries increasingly seeing Russia as a threat. This reaction could also indicate Russia's next target.
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