The recent incursion of a Russian drone into Romanian airspace on the night of September 12 has once again put NATO on high alert, highlighting the escalating tensions on the alliance’s eastern flank. This incident follows a similar, more extensive event on September 10, when 19 Russian drones breached Polish airspace, prompting Poland to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty—a move that signifies a serious threat to a member state’s territorial integrity and calls for immediate consultation among all members.
The events underscore a dangerous pattern of Russian actions that are increasingly seen as a deliberate attempt to test the resolve and response capabilities of the NATO alliance. The Polish government’s statement, which echoed Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s warnings, painted a clear picture: Putin’s ambitions extend beyond a mere victory in Ukraine. By encroaching on the airspace of NATO members, Russia appears to be probing for vulnerabilities and challenging the alliance’s foundational principle of collective defense.
In the latest incident, two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the single Russian drone as it entered Romanian airspace late on September 13. While a search was launched, the drone reportedly disappeared from radar near the village of Chilia Veche, leaving more questions than answers. The fact that a single drone can trigger such a significant military response speaks volumes about the heightened state of readiness and the grave seriousness with which these incursions are being treated.
This pattern of provocation is not new. When the 19 drones entered Poland, the Russian government immediately dismissed the claims as “false and lacking evidence.” This denial, coupled with the continued incursions, forces NATO members to maintain a state of constant vigilance. The Polish Ministry of Defense, for its part, has already deployed helicopters and aircraft to its border, elevating its security posture to the highest alert level.
As these events unfold, the focus shifts to NATO’s next move. The alliance’s cornerstone, Article 5, states that an attack on one member is an attack on all. While these drone incidents are not a direct “armed attack” in the traditional sense, they are a clear violation of sovereign airspace. With a Russian drone now seemingly “testing the waters” in Romania, the pressure is mounting on NATO to move beyond consultations and implement a tangible, forceful response that demonstrates its commitment to the “not one inch” policy regarding its members’ territories. The international community is watching to see how the world’s most powerful military alliance will respond to these persistent and dangerous provocations
