NATO has launched a response to Russia’s violation of Polish airspace. Dozens of Russian drones flew into the area on Tuesday before being shot down by NATO and Polish forces.
Eastern Sentry
NATO, which is composed of 32 countries, announced the launch of “Eastern Sentry,” which they described as military activity aimed at bolstering NATO’s posture along the confederation’s eastern flank.
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“The violation of Poland’s airspace earlier this week is not an isolated incident and impacts more than just Poland,” General Alexus G. Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said in a statement. “While a full assessment of the incident is ongoing, NATO is not waiting, we are acting.”
Eastern Sentry will specifically help bolster air defenses.
“What it isn’t is some kind of severe sanction on Russia, or penalty that’s going to hurt Russia, right?” Robert English, director of Central European Studies at USC, told Straight Arrow News. “It’s a defensive reaction. It’s a reinforced bolster defense, but still defensive.”
Some of the equipment heading to that flank includes F-16’s from Denmark and Eurofighters from Germany. France and the UK also plan to contribute.
“Eastern Sentry will add flexibility and strength to our posture,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a statement.
This action follows a meeting of the North Atlantic Council on Sept. 10, where Allies discussed Poland’s request for consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty.
That brings the countries together when one feels, among other things, their security is threatened.
“It’s important to remember that Russia did not attack Poland, but this is still very concerning, and I think it’s being treated with the proper level of gravity,” Paul Poast, associate political science professor at the University of Chicago and senior nonresident fellow at the Chicago Council of Global Affairs, told Straight Arrow News.
Appropriate response?
Following the drone incursion, the first question many asked was whether Russia did it intentionally or not.
President Donald Trump said it “could have been a mistake,” but Poland immediately rejected that premise.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his deputy defense minister made it clear they believe this was no mistake.
“If indeed Russia is engaged in testing NATO’s resolution probing, then the more resolute the response, the better,” English said. “If it went unanswered, that would be terrible, and that’s what they’re worried about. They have to do something.”
Invoking Article 4 instead of Article 5 means Poland did not feel Russia directly attacked them. The only time Article 5 has ever been invoked was following the 9/11 terror attacks on the U.S. in 2001.
“Even though this was an intentional violation of the airspace, they didn’t attack anything,” Poast said. “So, launching an attack against Russian assets would be way disproportionate. But I think doing something like they’re doing now is an appropriate response of saying we’re not going to let it go unanswered.”
The U.S. position
The U.S. is not directly sending weapons or warplanes to help with Eastern Sentry for now.
Today, Acting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Dorothy Shea told the UN Security Council that America would “defend every inch of NATO territory.”
“She’s not going to make those statements without that being signed off by the Trump administration,” Poast said. “I think those statements are very strong.”
People within the Trump administration may have differing views of the escalation. Vice President JD Vance has pushed for European nations to step up their own defenses.
Meanwhile Secretary of State Marco Rubio has tried to reassure NATO Allies of American commitment.
“I see this as being a problem for Trump, because a big part of his base doesn’t want anything to do with getting drawn into conflict, and this looks like a small but scary step towards that,” English said.
