Poland Activates NATO Article 4 After Russian Drone Incursion; Alliance Consultations Begin

Poland has formally invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty following an incident on September 10, 2025, where NATO fighter jets shot down multiple Russian drones that had entered Polish airspace. This unprecedented incursion by unmanned Russian aircraft into a NATO member’s territory since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine has ignited fears of a widening conflict and prompted urgent consultations within the alliance.

The incident, which Moscow claims was unintentional, saw several European leaders express belief that the incursion was deliberate. Poland’s swift response to activate Article 4 means any member state feeling threatened can request a consultation of the North Atlantic Council (NAC), NATO’s highest political decision-making body. This move signals Warsaw’s intent to bring the security threat directly to the attention of all allies and seek a unified stance.

While not as weighty as Article 5, which calls for collective defense in the event of an armed attack, Article 4 opens the door for a special NAC meeting to discuss immediate next steps. The United States, a staunch ally of Poland, is expected to stand firmly behind Poland’s efforts to defend itself. Discussions could lead to a joint declaration or a new plan of action, potentially including the deployment of additional air defense assets to bolster Polish defenses.

This is not the first time Article 4 has been invoked, with previous instances including Turkey’s concerns during the Syrian War and Eastern European members following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Poland’s action underscores the seriousness with which it views Moscow’s repeated violations of allied airspace, and it seeks unequivocal backing from its allies for a more aggressive response, similar to the coordinated downing of the drones.

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