Experts call for integrated European defence against airborne threats; Nato allies on continent send more jets to protect Polish skies. What we know on day 1,297
“It could have been a mistake,” Donald Trump offered when asked on Thursday about the mass Russian drone violation of Polish airspace. Poland’s foreign affairs minister posted in reply: “No, that wasn’t a mistake.” An emergency session of the UN security council will convene on Friday at Poland’s request as Warsaw seeks to rally support after the Russian drone incursion, write Shaun Walker and Jakub Krupa.
Britain should work with European Nato allies in developing an integrated air and missile defence system, according to two authors of the UK strategic defence review. “Europeans are going to have to realise they will have to do this themselves,” said Fiona Hill, a former White House adviser, who said Russia was “testing the limits” of Europe’s defences at a time when the military commitment of the US to Nato was uncertain. Dan Sabbagh writes that Hill’s co-author, Gen Sir Richard Barrons, said it was necessary to “step up quite quickly to improve medium- to low-level air defence”.
Having just launched drones into Polish airspace, Russia on Thursday demanded that Poland reopen its shared border with Belarus where the Russians are conducting military exercises. The Kremlin alluded to “consequences” otherwise. Poland’s PM, Donald Tusk, announced the closure on Tuesday because of the “very aggressive” Zapad military exercises being conducted by Belarus and Russia as well as a growing number of provocations from the dictatorial allies.
