The move underscores France’s contribution to NATO’s deterrence posture amid heightened tensions in the region. On Friday, NATO announced new deployments of air and ground assets along the borders with Belarus, Russia and Ukraine to counter the risk of Russian aggression after Russian drones violated Polish airspace. NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe confirmed that Operation Eastern Sentry will enhance defensive capabilities with support from multiple countries, including France’s Rafales, Denmark’s F-16 fighters, German and UK ground-based air defense systems, and naval frigates.

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz posted on X that the operation represents “active deterrence” and readiness to defend every necessary area. Earlier on Wednesday, several Russian drones breached Polish airspace, prompting NATO to scramble fighter jets and shoot them down — an incident that reinforced longstanding concerns that the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its third year, could spill over into neighboring countries.

Although Moscow claimed the drones were not intended to strike Poland and Belarus argued they had strayed off course due to signal jamming, many European leaders view the incursions as deliberate provocations by Russia.

Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks suggesting that the drone incident may have been merely accidental.

https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign/2882819