NATO introduced the main new defensive initiative marked with the “Eastern Guard”, in a direct response to what officials described as “dangerous and unacceptable” Russian intrusion into the Polish territory at the beginning of this week.
The operation announced by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Friday will begin in a few days and is designed to strengthen the eastern side of the alliance in the middle of the growing tension with Moscow. They will participate in the strength and equipment of Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and other Allied nations.
“Eastern Sentry will bring flexibility and strength to our posture and explain that as a defensive alliance we are always ready to defend,” Rutte said.
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Increased tension after violation of the Polish airspace
The initiative comes only a few days after several Russian drones violated the Polish air space, an incident that has classified Warsaw as a deliberate aggressive act.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described this event as a “attack” that directly contradicted the proposal of US President Donald Trump that the entry could have been random.
“We would also like the attack of drones on Poland a mistake. But it wasn’t. And we know,” Tusk said in a post on social media.
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According to Polish officials, Russia started up to 21 drones on Wednesday, with 19 confirmed violations of the Polish airspace came from Belarus. Subsequently, sixteen drones were restored, their debris were scattered after hundreds of square miles.
Marcin Przydacz, head of Polish presidential international politics, revealed that some drones could cross several times in and out of Polish territory and complicate efforts to monitor them.
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Eastern NATO guardian: flexible, agile and robust
US General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s highest allied commander, stressed that the Eastern Sentry will deploy a number of integrated defensive abilities, including increased supervision, ground air defense and rapid sharing of information between the Allied forces.
“The operation will be flexible and agile, covering the entire eastern side, from the high north to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean,” Grynkewich explained. “Through the eastern side, we are constantly adjusting and changing our posture in a way that keeps the opponent out of sight, but also responds to specific threats when we see them appearing.”
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According to an official NATO statement, the initial assets include two Danish fighter fighter F-16 and Fregat against Aruta, three French rafales and four German aircraft Eurofighter.
The operation is modeled on the earlier mission of the “Baltic Sentry”, which was started at the beginning of this year after the incidents of sabotage concerning underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
Global diplomatic fallout
Air space violation caused an intense diplomatic will.
At the UN Security Council meeting on Friday, the US and dozens of other nations issued a joint statement that condemned Russian actions.
“Such a provocation is extremely disrespectful to the collective and tireless efforts of the International Community to end the war and restoring peace and stability in accordance with international law,” said Marcin Bosacki, Polish Foreign Minister of New York.
Dorothy Shea, an US Ambassador to the UN, accused Russia of showing “immense disrespect” for international peaceful efforts, and quoted both its strikes in Ukraine and violations of Polish sovereignty.
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But Russia has denied all the accusations. His UN envoy, Vasily Nenezya, claimed that the drones were lacking in the extent to be achieved by Poland and blaming Warsaw for “hastily accusing” Moscow without evidence.
In the parallel diplomatic step French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot was convened by Russian Ambassador Alexey Meshkov in Paris, with Meshkov “categorically rejected unfounded accusations”, according to the Russian state medium.
Defenders “every centimeter” of the territory of NATO
Rutte emphasized that while NATO’s assessment of the Russian drones in Poland is still ongoing, the alliance cannot afford satisfaction.
“Whether the Russian deeds were intentional, Russia has violated NATO air space. That is why we must, because NATO will explain our determination and our ability to defend our territory,” he said. “And that’s exactly what the Eastern Sentry is designed.”
General Grynkewich repeated this report and emphasized NATO’s commitment to collective defense:
“Although the immediacy of our focus on Poland is, this situation exceeds the boundary of one nation. What affects one ally affects all of us,” he said.
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Why does it depend on the eastern page
The opening of the Eastern Sentry underlines growing instability along the eastern border of NATO and the determination of the alliance to discourage other Russian provocations.
The extent of operation, from the Arctic areas to the Mediterranean, reflects a comprehensive defense strategy designed to protect NATO Member States from a wide range of threats.
As the situation happens, NATO leaders signal that any future breach of allied airspace will be met with rapid and decisive measures – a report focused directly on Moscow, as tension continues to be in Eastern Europe.
(Tagstotranslate) Eastern Sentry
