Poland Invokes NATO’s Article 4 After Shooting Down Russian Drones

Lead Poland activated Article 4 of the NATO treaty on September 10 after its jets downed 19 Russian drones that breached Polish airspace, prompting alliance-wide consultations on member security.

Nut Graf Article 4 grants any NATO member the right to request formal talks among allies when it deems its territorial integrity, political independence or security at risk. Poland’s move signals alarm over repeated airspace violations and seeks coordinated NATO support.

What Is Article 4?

  • Article 4 reads: “The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.”
  • It does not obligate military action but can lead to joint decisions or measures.

Consular Deliberations Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk formally asked the North Atlantic Council to convene under Article 4 immediately after Russian drones entered and were intercepted over eastern Poland. NATO ambassadors met at headquarters in Brussels on September 10 to review the incident and discuss next steps.

Historical Context

  • Since 1949, Article 4 has been invoked eight times, most recently in February 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
  • Article 5, the alliance’s collective defense clause, has only been triggered once, after the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Russian Response and NATO’s Stance Russia’s state RIA news agency dismissed Poland’s claims as “baseless,” while European officials labelled the drone incursions a deliberate escalation. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte affirmed that allies “condemn any violation of allied airspace” and pledged to maintain readiness along the eastern flank.

Next Steps In the coming days, the North Atlantic Council will assess intelligence, consider political and logistical support measures, and determine whether to bolster air defenses or take other collective actions. Poland has urged increased defense production and continued backing for Ukraine to deter further Russian provocations.