According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the new mission aims to strengthen defenses on Europe’s eastern flank and is a direct response to the drone incidents. Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany have already joined, with more countries expected to follow. NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Chris Craig, noted that Operation Eastern Watch is designed to be flexible and comprehensive, covering the entire eastern flank from the Baltic states to Romania and Bulgaria. The mission includes not only static forces but also an adaptive approach allowing rapid threat responses. Rutte emphasized that NATO continues to analyze the incident in Polish skies, but Russia’s actions were “reckless and unacceptable”, whether intentional or not.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace was unacceptable, though it is unclear whether it was deliberate. He warned that if evidence shows the attack targeted Poland, “this will be a very escalating step”.
US President Donald Trump also suggested the incident was a mistake.
However, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski claims the country has facts and evidence indicating the Russian drone attack on September 10 was a planned provocation, in which 21 drones violated Polish airspace. Poland is deploying 40,000 soldiers to its borders with Belarus and Russia amid rising tensions following the drone incursion and the joint Russian-Belarusian Zapad 2025 exercises, expected to involve tens of thousands of troops.