The Russian drones over Poland are causing NATO to respond.
Now British fighter jets are being sent up to defend the border.
"This is a message to Moscow. You tested NATO," writes Defense Secretary John Healy.
Tensions along NATO's eastern border have escalated in recent days. On Wednesday 19 Russian drones flew over Poland and on Monday two Belarusians were arrested after flying a drone over the presidential palace and other government buildings in Warsaw.
Romania also had its airspace violated by a Russian drone over the weekend.
After the intrusion last week, Poland requested talks under Article 4 of the NATO treaty. It was only the eighth time in the history of the defense alliance – and now the consequences are visible.
“Direct threat to Europe's security”
On Monday, the United Kingdom announced that it was sending Typhoon fighter jets to defend Polish airspace. They are due to take off from a base in Lincolnshire in the coming days. To ensure they can stay aloft for a long time, they will be joined by a Voyager tanker aircraft, which will be sent from a base in Oxfordshire.
Denmark, France and Germany are also participating in the operation with fighter jets, the British government states.
"Russia's reckless behavior is a direct threat to Europe's security and a breach of international law," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.
His Defense Secretary John Healy was even sharper in his tone.
“This is a message to Moscow: You tested NATO, we responded with strength and unity,” he writes on X.
Poland's invocation of Article 4 resulted in an operation that NATO has dubbed"Eastern Sentry." The alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Friday that it will include both air and ground defense.
“Tried to test us”
After the large-scale incursion into Poland, the Russian government apologized by saying that the drones had been knocked out by electronic jammers and malfunctioned, Sky News writes.
Few believe that explanation.
to The Guardian.
The drone swarm also coincided with the final planning of the large Russian-Belarusian military exercise Zapad 25. It began near the Polish border on Friday and prompted Poland to close border crossings with Belarus.
