Poland, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), says 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Wednesday during a massive Russian drone attack on Ukraine.
Now, the country’s allies in NATO are being called upon to deliberate and come up with a response.
NATO’s Article 4 asks that member states come together to consult when one of them feels under threat.
“It’s not something that happens every day,” says Susan Pond, who directs the Glendon School of Public and International Affairs at York University. Article 4 has only been invoked eight times since 1949.
Article 4 was most recently used in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to determine NATO’s response to the war.
Susan Pond, Director of the Glendon School of Public and International Affairs at York University.
With Article 4 invoked, member nations will convene to exchange information and determine whether or not they feel Russia’s drones were sent into Poland with intention.
“I’m reassured that the allies will want to lower the temperature, while at the same time just making it clear to Russia that this is completely unacceptable.” Director Pond adds.
While the evidence is not yet stacked up, director Pond believes Russia’s incursion was no accident, but “an attempt to test the resolve and the response times of allies.”
What about Article 5?
Article 5 is the most important of NATO’s treatises. It calls upon member states to respond to an attack. It has only been invoked once: on September 12, 2001 by the United States.
When Article 5 is invoked, every country in NATO must reach a consensus before action is taken.
Article 5 has not yet been declared, but there is a possibility – however slim – that Poland could invoke the treaty if it feels sufficiently threatened, bringing NATO into direct conflict with Russia.
Director Pond feels Canadians shouldn’t panic, however. She points to Canada’s new plan to spend up to 5% of our GDP on defence (including 1.5% for infrastructure and other indirect forms of security).
“Canada, I think, and NATO are prepared for any future conflicts. We hope that we don’t have to act, but be reassured: NATO and other allies are going to stand firm with Poland and Ukraine.”
