What is Nato article four? Poland warns "we're closer" to armed conflict after Russian drone strikes
Poland has asked to invoke Nato article four after Russian drones entered its airspace.
As previously reported by NationalWorld, a number of Russian drones were shot down in Polish territory after a wave of strikes on Ukraine.
Several European leaders said they believe Russia is intentionally escalating the war in Ukraine, and Nato is discussing the incident in a meeting.
It came three days after Russia’s largest aerial attack on Ukraine since the war began, an assault that hit a key government building in Kyiv for the first time.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: “Russia’s war is escalating, not ending. Last night in Poland we saw the most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began, and indications suggest it was intentional, not accidental.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social media that Polish airspace was violated by multiple Russian drones.
He said: “Those drones that posed a direct threat were shot down.”
So what is Nato article four, and what would happen if it is invoked?
What is Nato article four?
Poland has demanded more than simple expressions of solidarity from its Nato allies - “thoughts and prayers” won’t suffice on this occasion.
Any country in the 32-state alliance can invoke article four, which brings an issue immediately to the attention of the North Atlantic Council, which is the decision-making body of Nato.
The article 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."
An armed response is not required if article four is invoked, but the North Atlantic Council may still decide to take some form of action against Russia.
Article four was last invoked by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia - in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.