The US stands by its allies, Washington's NATO envoy Matthew Whitaker said after Polish airspace was violated by drones, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported.
"We support our NATO allies against these airspace violations and will defend every inch of territory" of the alliance countries, Whitaker stressed in "Ex".
Poland has no doubt that the entry of drones into its airspace was not accidental, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told journalists after Warsaw shot down Russian drones that entered Polish territory during a Russian attack in western Ukraine, Reuters reported. He added that the widespread use of drones is a threat to the entire NATO organization and that Prime Minister Donald Tusk has asked allies for stronger air defense for Poland.
For his part, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide suggested that the violation of Polish airspace by drones could be an attempt by Russia to test NATO, Reuters reported.
The Polish Interior Ministry said on Monday that seven drones or drone debris had been found in Poland after Russian unmanned aerial vehicles violated the country's airspace overnight, DPA reported, BTA reports.
Five drones were found in the eastern Lublin region, a ministry spokesman said. One drone crashed over the Lodz Voivodeship in central Poland, and another in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. Debris from a projectile of unclear origin was also found. Police and the army are continuing to search for drones and their parts, the spokesman added.
Over a dozen drones entered Polish airspace overnight during full-scale Russian strikes on Ukraine, the army command said. Following the incident, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk requested consultations with NATO under Article 4 of the alliance's treaty. It provides for talks with NATO allies if any member state perceives an external threat.