NATO to beef up defence of Europe's eastern flank after Poland shot down Russian drones

"Warsaw has portrayed the drone incursions as an attempt by Russia to test the capabilities of Poland and NATO to respond. On Friday, Poland rejected Donald Trump's suggestion that the incursions could have been a mistake, a rare contradiction of the US president from one of Washington's closest European allies. Its foreign minister told Reuters Poland hopes Washington will take action to show solidarity with Warsaw."

"Later on Friday, the US joined Western allies in a statement to express concern about the drone incursion and to accuse Moscow of violating international law and the founding UN Charter. The statement was read by Poland's Secretary of State Marcin Bosacki ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on the drone issue. Russia said its forces had been attacking Ukraine at the time of the drone incursions and that it had not intended to hit targets in Poland."

"NATO's top military official, Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich, a US Air Force general, said the alliance would defend every inch of its territory. "Poland and citizens from across the alliance should be assured by our rapid response earlier this week and our significant announcement here today," Grynkewich told the same press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Grynkewich said Eastern Sentry was designed as a flexible operation to bolster defences along NATO's entire eastern flank, which stretches"

Poland portrayed the drone incursions as an attempt by Russia to test the capabilities of Poland and NATO and rejected a suggestion from Donald Trump that the incursions could have been a mistake. Poland's foreign minister expressed hope that Washington will take action to show solidarity. The United States and Western allies issued a statement accusing Moscow of violating international law and the UN Charter, read by Poland's Secretary of State before a UN Security Council meeting. Russia said its forces were attacking Ukraine and did not intend to hit targets in Poland. NATO announced Operation Eastern Sentry with allied commitments to bolster defenses along the eastern flank.

Read at Irish Independent