At the gathering of the subcommittee, representatives of the MON and the MFA informed Members of the results of consultations of NATO countries under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty. It was launched after the invasion of Polish airspace by Russian drones. “It was investigating Poland, but it was besides an attack that could have had tragic consequences,” said Stanisław Wzątek, deputy chief of the MON.
Illustration picture. A fragment of 1 of the Russian drones that violated Polish airspace on September 10.
The discussion took place at a gathering of the Subcommittee on abroad Cooperation and NATO. Deputy Minister of abroad Affairs Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski presented the circumstances of Poland's request for the launch of Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty. He stressed that specified a decision was taken jointly by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and president Karol Nawrocki after On September 10, Russian drones repeatedly breached the country's airspace. On the same day, the Permanent typical of Poland to NATO formally asked the Secretary-General of the Alliance to hold global consultations.
Article 4 worked
– Article 4 shall be launched erstwhile 1 associate State considers that its territorial integrity, political independency or safety are at risk. By 10 September, this evidence was applied 7 times: 5 times at the request of Turkey, erstwhile at the request of Poland in March 2014, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and erstwhile together by Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria on 24 February 2022, after Russia's re-attack on Ukraine," explained Bartoszewski. And he added: – The request submitted by Poland on 10 September was examined and accepted immediately.
Deputy Head of the Ministry of abroad Affairs reminded that on 12 September, 2 days after the Russian Federation's invasion of the Polish airspace, NATO Secretary-General and the ultimate Command of the Alliance Force announced the fresh east defender initiativewhich aims to strengthen deterrence and defence on the east flank, especially in airspace. As part of the fresh mission, allies study readiness to deploy additional troops in Poland. “The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, Spain, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Italy have so far declared their participation,” informed the Deputy Minister. Let us remind that the Czechs sent helicopters for peculiar operations to Poland, the Dutch will send a quota equipped with Patriot systems. And a fewer days ago, Typhoon fighters of the Royal Air Force have already performed their first operational flight over Poland under the ‘Eastern Guard’.
The abroad Ministry has announced that it will proceed to search to strengthen allied defence and deterrence, both in NATO and in bilateral relations with the Pact countries. “We will besides encourage allies to further strengthen force on Russia,” added Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski.
MON: It was provocation and attack
Representative of the Ministry of National Defence undersecretary of state Stanisław Wzątek recalled that Russian actions were a test of the reaction of Poland and NATO. "It was provoking, investigating our readiness, but besides an attack that could have had tragic consequences," he stressed.
The Deputy Chief of the MON added that the analysis of Russian drone attacks and actions taken after it shows that the test of work and allied readiness to interact has been successful. "We have presented to you in item the decisions taken by the operational commander of the armed forces and all the issues of our interest today, including the usage of Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty. It was thanks to him that we could present to the planet the scale of the threat from Russia, and besides prove that Poland does not stay alone, but receives immediate support from allies," said Stanisław Wzątek.
