ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump on Sunday pledged to defend Poland and the Baltic states if Russia continues escalating tensions in the region.

"Yeah, I would," Trump said when asked whether he would help defend Poland and Baltic countries from Russia if Moscow keeps escalating.

This came before Trump departed for a memorial service of assassinated conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona.

Trump's statement follows recent Russia's alleged violations of Baltic airspace. On Friday, three suspected Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace over the Gulf of Finland without permission for 12 minutes.

Estonia summoned Russia's charge d'affaires over the incident and requested NATO Article 4 consultations, though Russia denied entering Estonian airspace.

Asked if he has been briefed on Russian violations of Estonian airspace, Trump said: “Yeah, we don’t like it. “

The US “strongly” condemned the incident on Saturday, voicing support for its NATO ally.

“We strongly condemn Russia’s violation of Estonia’s airspace. We stand firmly with our Estonian Allies and will resolutely defend all NATO territory,” the US Mission to NATO said.

Poland reported two Russian fighter jets violated the safety zone around the Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea on the same day.

Earlier in September, 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. Russia, however, said the incursion was not deliberate.

The US State Department approved the possible sale of Javelin missile systems and related elements of logistics and program support to Poland, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The estimated cost is $780 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

"The proposed sale will improve Poland’s capability to meet current and future threats by upgrading its existing legacy Command Launch Units and increasing its defense inventory, thereby reinforcing its capability to protect Polish sovereign territory and improving its ability to meet NATO requirements," it said.

In August, The US State Department has approved the potential sale of sustainment and logistics support for F-35 fighter jets to Poland with an estimated value of $1.85 billion.