United States pledges to defend NATO territory after Russian drones in Poland

(Patria) - The United States told the United Nations Security Council on Friday that it would "defend every inch of NATO territory" following a suspected Russian drone incursion into Poland.

"The United States stands with our NATO allies in the face of these alarming airspace violations," said U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea told the 15-member body, Reuters reported.

The statements appeared aimed at reassuring Washington's NATO allies after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Russia's alleged drone incursion into Poland could have been a mistake.

Shea also noted that Russia has intensified its bombing campaign in Ukraine since Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska as part of his effort to mediate an end to Moscow's more than three-year war in Ukraine.

"These actions, now coupled with violations of the airspace of a U.S. ally, whether intentional or not, show a profound disregard for the good-faith efforts of the United States to end this conflict," Shea said.

Poland on Wednesday shot down drones in its airspace with the support of aircraft from its NATO allies, the first time a member of the Western military alliance has fired during Russia's war in Ukraine.

"We know, and I repeat, we know that this was not a mistake," Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki told the Council. He showed photos of the downed drone, revealing Russian inscriptions on the drone's parts.

"Poland will not be intimidated," he added.

Physically impossible

Slovenian Ambassador to the UN Samuel Žbogar also sought to refute the suggestion that the drone incursion could have been a mistake, telling the Council that "it is hard to imagine that so many drones unintentionally flew so deep over Polish territory."

Russia said its forces were attacking Ukraine at the time of the drone incursion and had no intention of hitting targets in Poland.

"There were no designated targets on Polish territory," Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzya told the Security Council.

"The maximum range of the drones used in this attack did not exceed 700 kilometers, which physically makes it impossible for them to reach Polish territory."

He said Moscow was ready to talk to Poland "if the Polish side is genuinely interested in de-escalation, not in fueling tensions."

The United States also joined Western allies in a joint statement on Friday to express concern over the Russian drone incursion and accuse Moscow of violating international law and the founding UN Charter.

The statement, read by Bosacki ahead of the Security Council meeting, also called on Russia to stop "its war of aggression against Ukraine" and refrain from further provocations.
The joint statement was supported by 43 countries.