Operation, which comes into force tonight, will feature air and terrestrial assets highlighted by several allied countries, including Denmark, France, the United Kingdom and Germany. Other Member States will come together soon
NATO announced on Friday the launch of Operation “East Sentinel”, a new mission designed to reinforce the defense of the eastern flank of Europe following the recent.
Atlantic Alliance Secretary Mark Rutte has defined the latest incidents as “reckless and unacceptable” and stressed that no violation of ally airspace will be tolerated. “We cannot allow Russian drones to enter the ally airspace,” he said, quoted by Reuters.
The operation, which comes into force on Friday night, will feature air and terrestrial assets highlighted by several allied countries, including Denmark, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, with other Member States to join soon.
Nato’s supreme commander Alexus Grynkewich has reinforced the alliance determination to ensure the protection of all its members: “The NATO will defend every centimeter of the territory of the covenant. Poland and citizens of the whole alliance should feel quiet with our quick response earlier this week and the significant announcement we do today.”
Rutte also pointed out that the defense of the eastern flank is essential for the protection of all 32 European countries that are part of the NATO. “These last Russian missiles, when they are released, will travel the speed of sound five times and will only take another five or ten minutes to Madrid or London than Tallinn or Vilnius. In this sense, we all live in the eastern flank,” he said.
Grynkewich stressed this danger, warning that “the range and routes that drones can follow make us all vulnerable.” “The eastern flank provides a first line of defense. If these drones exceed this barrier, they can be combined with ballistic missiles or other capabilities that put the whole alliance at risk.”
With the operation “East Sentinel”, NATO seeks to send a clear sign of unity and readiness to the growing Russian threat. “It is an eastern line that we are working to defend, but it is in the name of the whole alliance that this operation advances,” concluded the commander.
