The NATO alliance will bolster its posture on its eastern flank following the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace earlier this week.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced the launch of “Eastern Sentry” on Friday, saying that the effort will include Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other countries providing assets to NATO’s eastern flank.
“In addition to more traditional military capabilities, this effort will also feature elements designed to address the particular challenges associated with the use of drones,” Rutte said during a press conference. “‘Eastern Sentry’ will add flexibility and strength to our posture and make clear that as a defense alliance, we are always ready to defend.”
Denmark will provide two F-16 aircraft and an anti-air warfare frigate, France will contribute three Rafale aircraft, and Germany will provide four Eurofighter aircraft, according to a statement from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.
General Alexus Grynkewich, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said the focus should be less on the specific weapons systems and more on how this “is an entirely new defense design.”
“The previous way we orchestrated ourselves on the eastern flank is we had individual air policing actions in different locations and we had individual ground-based air defenses in several locations as well, and then, of course, we’re working with nations on a case-by-case basis, as we see threats,” he added. “This is going to be a comprehensive and integrated approach, and with additional resources, we’ll be able to plug gaps in the line.”
This was not the first time Russia had encroached on NATO airspace, but the number of drones and how deep into Polish airspace they went represented a threat that had not been experienced to date. It was the first time NATO aircraft engaged possible threats in allied airspace.
“While this was the largest concentration of violations of NATO airspace that we have seen, what happened on Wednesday was not an isolated incident. Russia’s recklessness in the air along our eastern flank is increasing in frequency. We have seen drones violate our airspace in Romania, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania,” Rutte added. “Whether intentional or not, it is dangerous and unacceptable.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the drone attack wasn’t a mistake in response to comments from President Donald Trump that suggested it could have been unintentional. Trump’s nominee to be the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Christopher Mahoney, said in his confirmation hearing on Thursday that it “looks more intentional than not” to him.
Rutte and Grynkewich described NATO’s eastern flank as the front line of defense, but dismissed arguments that the whole alliance wasn’t at risk of Russian aggression.
POLAND ACCUSES RUSSIA OF ‘PROVOCATION’ AFTER DRONE CRASH ON BORDER
“I don’t like that whole eastern flank thinking because it gives the impression that if I live in Madrid or London, I am safer than when I live in Tallinn and it’s not true because these latest Russian missiles, when they will be launched, they come down with five times the speed of sound and they will take five or ten minutes longer to reach Madrid or London than they take to reach Tallinn or Vilnius,” Rutte said.
Grynkewich added, “The eastern flank provides a first line of defense for this, and if those drones get through that first line of defense, they can be paired with the ballistic missiles or other capabilities that hold the entire alliance at risk.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than three and a half years ago prompted several countries in Eastern Europe to dramatically increase their defense spending. The war and this week’s incursion continue to highlight that drone warfare will be a fundamental part of how current and future conflicts are fought and won.