The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, announced the deployment of three Rafale fighters in Eastern Europe to protect Poland’s airspace after the incursion of Russian drones into that country’s airspace. The decision seeks to reinforce the protection of NATO’s eastern border and coordinate with allies in the defense of the region.
“Following the incursions of Russian drones into Poland, I have decided to deploy three Rafale fighters to contribute to the protection of Polish airspace and NATO’s eastern flank together with our allies,” Macron stated in a communiqué released on social media. The president indicated that he had conveyed this commitment to the Polish prime minister and that he also discussed the matter with the NATO secretary general and the British prime minister. “The security of the European continent is our top priority. We will not yield to Russia’s growing intimidation,” he added.
The drone incursion
The episode took place during the night of September 9, when F-16 fighters of the Polish Air Force and F-35A fighters of the Royal Netherlands Air Force intercepted Russian drones that entered Polish territory. According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, they were “numerous unmanned aircraft coming from Russia” that crossed the country’s airspace, which immediately triggered the Alliance’s rapid response protocols.
The operation also involved early warning aircraft from the Italian Air Force, Airbus A330 MRTT aerial refueling aircraft, and Patriot air defense systems from the German Armed Forces.
From Warsaw it was reported that several drones were shot down, marking the first time that a NATO member has opened fire on Russian aircraft in the context of the war in Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as a “large-scale provocation” and considered it “the closest moment to an open conflict since the Second World War,” although he ruled out an immediate war scenario.
Reactions and consequences
Russia rejected the accusations and denied responsibility for the incident. A Russian diplomat in Poland claimed there was no evidence that the drones were of Russian origin, while the RIA agency cited sources who described the allegations as “groundless.”
The situation led to the temporary closure of airports in eastern Poland and prompted the government to activate Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which provides for consultations among member states when any of them perceives a threat to its security. The North Atlantic Council met in Brussels and reaffirmed its support for Warsaw, describing the events as a “dangerous and reckless action.”
*Cover image for illustrative purposes only
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