AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
NATO anticipates further Russian airspace incursions following a recent event where around 20 drones and at least one missile crossed into Polish airspace from western Russia. Analyst Michael Clarke suggests Putin is emboldened due to perceived American weakness. While NATO responded with F-16s, F-35s, refuelers, and airborne headquarters, it’s unclear if the intruding objects were shot down or simply escorted out. Clarke expects NATO to adopt a stricter approach in the future, promising to shoot down any incoming threats. He emphasizes that NATO will need to improve their response in subsequent incursions.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
Analysis: NATO expects more Russian incursions – they’ll have to do better next time
Donald Trump’s reaction to Russia violating NATO airspace might be “the loudest dropping of a penny in modern political history,” says military analyst Michael Clarke.
“Putin obviously feels he can keep the pressure up because he’s convinced the Americans, mainly through [US envoy] Steve Witkoff, that the Russians are going to win anyway… which is not true.”
The Russians launched 450 drones from western Russia across Ukraine, and around 20 of them entered Polish airspace – as well as at least one missile.
“This was a pretty serious incursion that was meant presumably to demonstrate that Russia can do this if it chooses.”
NATO reacted by flying F-16s from Poland and F-35s from the Netherlands, while the Italians operated refuelers and an airborne headquarters to coordinate the action.
“The air policing operation operated as it should. It shows the system works.”
But it was unclear if they shot all of them down or shepherded some of them out, says Clarke.
“I suspect NATO will declare that in future, anything that comes over Polish airspace will be shot down.Â
“If that’s what they do say, then they’ll have to do better than they did last night.Â
“I think the assumption in NATO is that probably this is going to happen again.”
