The NATO It will strengthen the defense of its eastern wing after the invasion of Russian drones into Poland’s airspace this week, the Alliance Secretary General of the Alliance announced today, September 12th. Mark Rutte.
The mandate has already been given for the launch of this operation, named “Eastern Guard”, Vice -Commander Alexus Grinkevic, the Supreme Military Commander of NATO in Europe, said at a joint press conference with Mark Rutte.
“Poland and citizens of all countries of the alliance should be sure of our rapid reaction earlier this week and our significant announcement here today,” he said.
The mission will include a series of means that incorporate air and ground bases.
It will start specifically “in the next few days” and will include contributions from various countries in the alliance, “including Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and others,” Rutte added.
France has already announced the sending of three Rafale fighter aircraft to strengthen the defense of the Polish airspace. Germany also decided to contribute to the better defense of the Polish airspace.
“The Eastern Guard will be flexible and versatile, providing even more targeted deterrence and defense exactly when and where needed,” Greenkevic stressed.
It did not provide further details on the intentional nature of this unprecedented invasion of about twenty Russian drones into the Polish airspace. The evaluation is still ongoing, he said, while Poland and the 27 states of the European Union have denounced a “deliberate violation” of the Polish airspace.
“Whatever the intention behind it, and whether it was wrong or not, we continue to investigate. It was dangerous and unacceptable, “he said.
Polish and Dutch F-16 and F-35 broke at least three of the 19 drones that entered Polish airspace on Tuesday night to Wednesday, which was the first time in NATO history created in 1949. Russia, for its part, denied any responsibility.
WATCH LIVE: NATO’s Rutte holds news conference in wake of Russian drone incursion https://t.co/Z2aKwbIq1x
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“It was a very successful business,” General Greenkevic reiterated.
But, he added, “no matter how successful it is, we always learn something during the report”, especially in terms of the need for airlines that are best suited for drones attacks.
“In addition to the most traditional military capabilities, this effort will also include elements designed to face the unique challenges associated with the use of drones,” Rutte assured.
Asked about the cost of using multi -million euro weapons systems to tackle much cheaper drones, especially in the long run, the US general assured that NATO was working for solutions.
Specifically, Denmark will contribute two F-16 fighter aircraft and one anti-aircraft warfare, France will contribute three Rafale, as President Macron has already announced, and Germany will contribute four Eurofighter.
Following NATO’s announcement, Britain announced that it is fully committed to reinforcing the defense of Europe’s eastern wing. “The United Kingdom is fully committed to the Eastern NATO guard after the reckless and dangerous violations of Russia’s airspace,” a spokesman for the Defense Ministry said.
“Soon we will provide more details on the contribution of the UK Armed Forces.”