Polish President Approves NATO Forces Deployment

(MENAFN) Polish President Karol Nawrocki approved a resolution on Sunday allowing NATO forces to deploy in Poland following a series of Russian drone incursions into the country's airspace. The move is part of a broader strategy to fortify NATO's eastern defenses.

"The President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, has signed a resolution authorizing the presence of a foreign military component from the state parties to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on the territory of the Republic of Poland as part of Operation Eastern Sentry. The President's resolution is classified," the National Security Bureau (BSN) announced on the social media platform X.

Operation Eastern Sentry, which was unveiled in Brussels by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Friday, was launched in response to recent drone violations over Polish territory. The operation follows Poland’s invocation of NATO’s Article 4 in light of the threat posed by Russian actions.

“The operation aims to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank in response to Russia's destabilizing behavior,” Rutte stated.

NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Alexus G. Grynkewich, emphasized that the operation would integrate both air and land defense measures to counter a range of potential threats emanating from Russia.

“In the early hours of Wednesday, September 10th, numerous Russian drones violated Polish airspace. NATO’s air defenses were activated and successfully ensured the defense of NATO territory,” Rutte confirmed.

Rutte stated that the September 10th incident marked the most significant breach of NATO airspace yet, though it was not an isolated occurrence. He further emphasized that Russia's reckless actions in the air along NATO's eastern flank are becoming more frequent. He pointed out that drones have violated airspace in Romania, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, stressing that such actions, whether intentional or not, are both dangerous and unacceptable.

Rutte further highlighted that NATO's response would involve assets from member countries, including Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and others. The operation will focus on traditional military capabilities, while also addressing the unique challenges posed by the use of drones.

Rutte announced that NATO is launching "Eastern Sentry" to strengthen its position along the eastern flank. The operation, set to begin in the coming days, will involve various military assets aimed at ensuring NATO’s readiness as a defensive alliance.

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