Poland has formally invoked Article 4 of the NATO Treaty in response to a drone incursion from Belarus, an action that has put the alliance's collective security procedures to the test.
The move on Wednesday came after Polish air defense forces shot down multiple Russian drones that had entered Polish airspace overnight, marking a significant escalation of tensions on NATO's eastern flank.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described the violation of Polish airspace as a "large-scale provocation." The wreckage of one crashing drone ripped the top off a house in Wyryki-Wola, in eastern Poland, near both the Ukrainian and Belarusian borders.
In response, he said, Polish and NATO aircraft, including F-35, F-16, and MI-24, MI-17, and Black Hawk helicopters were dispatched.
"This is a truly unprecedented situation where the Polish and allied air forces were forced to use their weapons against more than a dozen drones," he said. "The night was very busy for the Polish Armed Forces, with all available systems and resources activated."
The event has prompted immediate and strong reactions from multiple European leaders already greatly more concerned about the continent's security since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. French President Emmanuel Macron calling it "simply unacceptable."
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said it was "the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began," and that "indications suggest it was intentional, not accidental." The Russian defense ministry has denied any intent to target Poland, though their statement, which did not deny the drones crossed the border, has done little to quell concerns.
It marks a critical moment for the alliance, forcing a demonstration of its collective defense capabilities and reinforcing the need for member countries to adhere to the commitments made at their summits to invest more in defense and support Ukraine.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as the closest the region had been to open conflict since World War II. He said the drone violations, tracked at least 19 times by Polish and Allied radar systems, and as many as 23 according to reporting by the Rzeczpospolita daily newspaper, were a "planned action," not accidental, and came "directly from Belarus," a key ally of Russia.
"I have no reason to claim we're on the brink of war, but a line has been crossed, and it's incomparably more dangerous than before," he said.
The request for consultations under Article 4, a measure triggered when the "territorial integrity, political independence or security" of a NATO member is threatened, underscores the gravity of the situation. It forces the alliance to officially convene and discuss a coordinated response, highlighting the procedural importance of the treaty's framework.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte affirmed that Allied nations "expressed solidarity with Poland and denounced Russia's reckless behavior." He reiterated the alliance's commitment to "defend every inch of Allied territory" and said a full assessment of the incident is underway. The event has prompted a renewed focus on NATO's eastern flank, with air defenses remaining on high alert.
"Russia is waging a dangerous war of aggression against Ukraine that continually targets civilians and civilian infrastructure," said Rutte. "Allies are determined to step up their support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's escalating campaign."
