NATO Launches Operation Eastern Guardian Along Russian and Belarusian Borders

The General Staff of the Polish Army has announced the initiation of NATO’s Operation Eastern Guardian, designed to enhance the defense of the alliance’s eastern flank. This announcement was made via the General Staff’s official account on the X social network, which also shared a video of a French A400 transport aircraft landing in Minsk-Mazowieckie. The aircraft delivered weapons intended for Rafale fighters that are already stationed in Poland.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte unveiled the operation on September 12, responding to a recent incident involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that violated Polish airspace. Rutte stated that Operation Eastern Guardian entails the deployment of additional military resources, including contributions from the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and Germany, to reinforce security in the region.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk previously mentioned that “dangerous” drones, which he attributed to Russia, were shot down over the country on September 10. However, no evidence was provided to substantiate their origin. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicated that more than ten UAVs were involved in the incident.