NATO Strengthens Eastern Flank After Russian Drone Incursion Into Poland

Poland experienced a significant incursion of Russian drones into its airspace amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine, marking the first instance of a NATO member firing on Russia during the war. Polish officials, including Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, rejected US President Donald Trump's suggestion that the drone incursion might have been a mistake, emphasizing it was a deliberate provocation likely intended to test NATO's response. NATO responded by launching an operation called Eastern Sentry to strengthen its eastern flank, with increased deployment of jets to counter future drone threats. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the incursion as "unacceptable and dangerous" but expressed uncertainty about whether the drones were specifically targeted at Poland, underscoring the need for further investigation and consultations with allies. Poland reported minor damage and no casualties, with many of the drones being unarmed decoys, and vowed a tougher response if future attacks cause harm. The episode has heightened tensions and raised concerns about potential escalation in the region, with NATO stressing its commitment to defend all member territories.