'Last night showed that we are able to defend every inch of NATO territory,' Mark Rutte says
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Wednesday that the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones was "not an isolated incident," noting that a full assessment of the situation is underway.
"Last night, numerous drones from Russia violated Polish airspace. Our air defenses were activated and successfully reassured the defense of NATO territory, as they are designed to do," Rutte told reporters following a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels.
He said Poland requested consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, and allies expressed solidarity with Warsaw while denouncing Russia's "reckless behavior."
"A full assessment of the incident is ongoing. What is clear is that a violation last night is not an isolated incident. The Supreme Allied Commander will continue to actively manage our deterrence and defense posture along the entire eastern flank. Allies are resolved to defend every inch of allied territory," he said.
He reiterated NATO's commitment to strengthening defense capabilities, ramping up defense production, and continuing support for Ukraine.
"Whether it was intentional or not, it is absolutely reckless. It is absolutely dangerous... And to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin: My message is clear, stop the war in Ukraine, stop the escalating war, which he is now basically mounting on innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure. Stop violating allied airspace," he warned.
He also praised NATO forces for their swift response, saying: "I think last night showed that we are able to defend every inch of NATO territory, including, of course, its airspace."
Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on social media that Poland's military had shot down drones that violated its airspace overnight. He added that he had called an emergency Cabinet meeting and briefed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
After the 19 drones were shot down, as reported by news outlet Onet, several airports, including Warsaw and Rzeszow, were closed as a precaution. Police, border guards and firefighters were also placed on alert across eastern Poland.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz urged calm, saying he had briefed counterparts in the UK, Germany, France and Italy, and was also in contact with defense chiefs from Finland, Sweden, the Baltic states and NATO officials.
Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which allows allies to consult when one feels its security is threatened, has been triggered only seven times since the alliance was established in 1949.
