Poland has formally requested the activation of NATO’s Article 4 following what Prime Minister Donald Tusk described as nineteen airspace violations by drones originating from Russia, some of which reportedly passed through Belarus or were launched directly from there. Speaking before Parliament, Tusk emphasized that the incidents, which occurred from late Tuesday evening to early Wednesday morning, reflect a wider regional security threat.
“Our situation is more dangerous than at any time since the Second World War,” Tusk warned, while clarifying that Poland is not at war but must treat the incursions as part of a broader strategy involving Russia and Belarus. He noted that Polish Armed Forces escalated their response late Tuesday night after repeated violations, the first recorded at 11:30 p.m. and the last at 6:30 a.m.
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Moscow denies responsibility
Russia dismissed the allegations, saying Warsaw had presented no evidence the drones were of Russian origin. “We consider the accusations baseless,” said Andrei Ordash, Russia’s chargé d’affaires in Poland, after being urgently summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry. Russian state media further emphasized Moscow’s rejection of the claims.
Despite the denials, Tusk said NATO allies have expressed understanding of the gravity of the situation and reiterated their support for Ukraine, framing Poland’s security as inseparable from Kyiv’s defense against Russia.
How NATO’s Article 4, invoked by Poland, works
Article 4 of the Washington Treaty allows any member state to call for consultations whenever it believes its territorial integrity, political independence, or security is under threat.
While it does not automatically trigger a military response, it brings the issue before the North Atlantic Council, which may decide on diplomatic, military, or deterrence measures.
Unlike Article 5, which establishes collective defense in the event of an armed attack, Article 4 serves as an early-warning mechanism—a “political alarm bell” that can shape alliance-wide strategy.
Previous invocations of Article 4 of NATO
Since NATO’s founding in 1949, Article 4 has been invoked only seven times, underscoring its extraordinary nature.
Notable instances include Turkey’s requests during the Iraq War in 2003 and the Syrian conflict in 2012 and 2015; consultations by Poland and the Baltic states after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014; and most recently, by multiple Eastern European states in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Poland’s latest request signals not only heightened regional tensions but also the potential for deeper NATO involvement in deterring further provocations along the alliance’s eastern flank.
