NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the Alliance will reinforce the defense of its eastern flank following the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones this week, AFP reported.

The announcement comes after NATO, for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine three and a half years ago, scrambled fighter jets to shoot down Russian drones over allied territory.

“NATO is launching Operation Eastern Sentry to further strengthen our presence on the eastern flank,” Rutte said at a joint press conference with NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. General Alexus Grynkewich.

“This military activity will begin in the coming days and will include various assets from allies, among them Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany,” he specified, adding that the reinforcement will involve both traditional military capabilities and elements addressing challenges related to the use of drones.

Rutte emphasized that NATO is still assessing whether Russia deliberately violated Poland’s airspace, but regardless, “the action is reckless and unacceptable.”

France and Germany have already confirmed that they will send additional fighter jets to Poland. “While our immediate focus is on Poland, this situation goes beyond the borders of a single country. What affects one ally affects us all,” General Grynkewich said.

He described Operation Eastern Sentry as “flexible and dynamic,” providing even more focused defense and deterrence “exactly where and exactly when needed.”

Although NATO considers its response to the Russian drones a success, questions have arisen as to why only some of them were shot down. “We are always looking for ways to improve our responses—from the smallest tactical errors to the broader approach to the problem,” Grynkewich explained, stressing that the scale of the latest incursion was significantly larger than previous ones.

He added that NATO is working to ensure cheaper defensive weapons to make the operation sustainable over time: “When a pilot is in the air or a soldier on the ground is defending the Alliance, I don’t want them to think about how much their weapons cost. I want them to think about protecting our citizens.”

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz thanked NATO for its “decisive actions and decisions in response to Russia’s aggressive policy.” He stressed that the new deployment is “not only a strategic decision, but also an expression of responsibility for the security of the entire eastern flank of the Alliance.” | BGNES