NATO launched an initiative this week to strengthen the defense of Europe’s eastern side after Russian drones invaded Poland’s airspace, NATO Executive Director Mark Latte announced on Friday.
Operation “Eastern Sentry” will begin in the coming days and include assets from Denmark, France, the UK and Germany, Latte said.
“The East Sentry adds flexibility and strength to our attitude and makes it clear that as a defensive alliance we are always ready to defend,” he added.
Latte said Wednesday’s “dangerous and unacceptable” drone invasion in Russia was “not an isolated incident.”
“The recklessness in Russia along our east side is increasing in frequency,” Latte said.
NATO’s best alliance commander, Europe, US General Alexus Glinkywich said “flexible and agile” operations include enhanced capabilities, integrated air and ground defenses, and increased information sharing between NATO partners.
“The immediacy of our focus is in Poland, but this situation is beyond the boundaries of one country. What affects one ally affects us all,” says Grynkewich.
“Citizens from Poland and the entire Alliance should be assured by our prompt response earlier this week and our important announcement today,” he said.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tass on Friday called the Russian drone invasion a “attack” on his country, saying that it was not a mistake. Hours after President Donald Trump suggested that airspace violations could be a coincidence.
“I hope the drone attack on Poland was a mistake, but it wasn’t.
Poland has information showing that Russia launched as many as 21 drones in the country on Wednesday, but not all of them have been discovered, Marcin Przydacz, head of Poland’s Presidential Office of International Policy, told local media. Several drones may have gone back and forth across the airspace, Przydacz said in an interview with Radio Zet on Friday.
Polish officials previously said there have been 19 invasions in the country’s airspace, with the majority of drones entering from Belarus. Poland’s Home Minister said on Wednesday that a total of 16 drones have been found nationwide. The debris were found covering hundreds of square miles.
Trump told White House reporters on Thursday: “I told him that it might have been a mistake, but despite that, I’m not happy with the fact that it has to do with the whole situation, but hopefully it’ll end.”
Rutte said an assessment of NATO’s Wednesday invasion is ongoing.
“Whether or not Russia’s actions were intentional, Russia violated NATO airspace. Therefore, as NATO, we must clarify our resolve and our ability to protect our territory,” he said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
