NATO activates Article 4 after Russian drones violate Polish airspace

Polsat News reported this, citing Polish government spokesman Adam Szałapka, who confirmed that consultations had already taken place under the procedure.

What is Article 4 of NATO?

Article 4 allows member states to bring a problematic situation to the attention of the North Atlantic Council — NATO’s main political decision-making body — and hold consultations with allies.

“The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened,” the treaty states.

Since 1949, Article 4 of the North Atlantic Alliance has been invoked seven times. Poland last used it in 2022, together with several allies, in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and earlier in 2014 during the crisis in Crimea and Donbas.

Why did NATO invoke Article 4?

Speaking in the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Tusk said, “The downing of drones that threatened our security is a success for Polish and NATO forces, but it also changes the political situation. Therefore, consultations with our allies have taken the form of an official request to activate Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty.”

Article 4 allows any NATO member state to initiate consultations with other members if it believes its territorial integrity, political independence, or security is threatened.

“Today, Poland faces a political enemy that makes no secret of its hostile intentions beyond its eastern border. We must focus all our strength and resources on defending the country against this real threat,” Tusk said.

Russian Shaheds in Polish airspace: What we know

The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces placed air defense and aviation units on high alert following Russia’s night attack on Ukraine on September 10, during which Russian drones entered Polish airspace. Reports indicate that more than 20 UAVs were involved.

In a village in Poland’s Lublin Province, debris from one drone fell on a house, though no injuries were reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the violation of Poland’s airspace by Russian drones, calling it a dangerous precedent for all of Europe.