Nato boosts defence of Europe’s eastern flank to ward off Russia

Nato announced plans to strengthen the defence of Europe’s eastern flank on Friday, two days after Poland shot down drones that had violated its airspace in the first known action of its kind by a member of the Western alliance during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Warsaw has portrayed the drone incursions as an attempt by Russia to test the capabilities of Poland and Nato to respond.

On Friday, Poland rejected Donald Trump’s suggestion that the incursions could have been a mistake, a rare contradiction of the US president from one of Washington’s closest European allies. Its foreign minister said Poland hopes Washington will take action to show solidarity with Warsaw.

Later on Friday, the US joined Western allies in a statement to express concern about the drone incursion and to accuse Moscow of violating international law and the founding UN Charter.

The statement was read by Poland’s Secretary of State Marcin Bosacki before a UN Security Council meeting on the drone issue.

Russia said its forces had been attacking Ukraine at the time of the drone incursions and that it had not intended to hit targets in Poland.