[10 SEP 2025] NATO Sec Gen on violation of Polish airspace

NATO Secretary General statement on violation of Polish 🇵🇱 airspace by Russian drones, 10 SEP 2025

• Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuCXgLZMSZU

NATO Secretary General Statement on Russian Drone Violation

1. Last night, numerous drones from Russia violated Polish airspace.
2. Our air defences were activated and successfully ensured the defence of NATO territory, as they are designed to do.
3. Several Allies were involved alongside Poland.
4. This included Polish F-16s, Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS, NATO Multi Role Tanker Transport, and German Patriots.
5. I commend the pilots and all who contributed to this quick and skillful response.
6. The North Atlantic Council met this morning and discussed the situation in light of Poland's request for consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty.
7. Allies expressed solidarity with Poland and denounced Russia's reckless behaviour.
8. A full assessment of the incident is ongoing.
9. What is clear is that the violation last night is not an isolated incident.
10. The Supreme Allied Commander will continue to actively manage our deterrence and defence posture along the entire eastern flank.
11. Allies are resolved to defend every inch of Allied territory.
12. We will closely monitor the situation along our eastern flank, our air defences continually at the ready.
13. This only reinforces the importance of NATO and the path to which Allies agreed at our Summit in The Hague earlier this year.
14. We need to invest more in our defence, ramp up defence production so we have what we need to deter and defend, and we need to continue to support Ukraine, whose security is interlinked with our own.
15. And let me conclude by saying that Russia is waging a dangerous war of aggression against Ukraine that continually targets civilians and civilian infrastructure.
16. Allies are determined to step up their support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's escalating campaign.
17. With that, I'm going to take one or two questions.

**Andrew Gray, Reuters:** Secretary General, thank you very much. Andrew Gray from Reuters. Do you have any initial assessment of the intent behind this incident? Was it a deliberate attack, a deliberate incursion, or a mistake? And do you have any particular message for Russia — for President Putin — about this incident?

**Secretary General:** Yes, as I said, a full assessment is ongoing. But of course, whether it was intentional or not, it is absolutely reckless. It is absolutely dangerous. But as I said, the full assessment is ongoing.

1. And to Putin, I mean, my message is clear: Stop the war in Ukraine.
2. Stop the escalating war, which he is now basically mounting on innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure.
3. Stop violating Allied airspace.
4. And know that we stand ready, that we are vigilant, and that we will defend every inch of NATO territory.

**Reporter:** One more, if I may. Does this tell you anything about the state of NATO's air defences, particularly when it comes to drones - a relatively new threat? Does NATO need to do more to better protect against drones?

**Secretary General:** I think what we have seen last night was a very successful reaction by NATO and Allies, including of course Poland itself, but also the Dutch and the Italians and the Germans - everybody involved. And I'm really impressed.

1. So of course, we always have to make sure that we are one step ahead.
2. But I think last night showed that we are able to defend every inch of NATO territory, including, of course, its airspace.

Thank you so much.

Lexical Chunks with Plain English Explanations

Opening Statement

1. violated Polish airspace - entered Poland's sky without permission
2. air defences were activated - turned on the air protection systems
3. ensured the defence - made sure protection worked
4. involved alongside Poland - helped Poland
5. commend the pilots - praise the pilots
6. quick and skillful response - fast and good reaction
7. discussed the situation - talked about what happened
8. in light of - because of
9. expressed solidarity - showed support
10. denounced Russia's reckless behaviour - criticized Russia for being dangerous
11. full assessment - complete investigation
12. ongoing - still happening
13. What is clear is that - we know for sure that
14. not an isolated incident - not the first time this happened
15. continue to actively manage - keep controlling
16. deterrence and defence posture - threat and protection position
17. along the entire eastern flank - across the whole eastern border
18. closely monitor the situation - watch carefully
19. reinforces the importance of - makes more important
20. path to which Allies agreed - plan everyone accepted
21. invest more in our defence - spend more money on protection
22. ramp up defence production - make more weapons and equipment
23. deter and defend - scare enemies and protect ourselves
24. security is interlinked with - safety is connected to
25. let me conclude by saying that - to finish, I want to say
26. waging a dangerous war - fighting a risky war
27. targets civilians and civilian infrastructure - attacks ordinary people and buildings
28. determined to step up their support - decided to give more help
29. in the face of - despite
30. escalating campaign - increasing attacks

Q&A Session

First Question

31. initial assessment of the intent behind this incident - first guess about why this happened
32. deliberate attack - planned attack
33. deliberate incursion - planned invasion
34. have any particular message - want to say something specific

First Answer

35. full assessment is ongoing - complete investigation is still happening
36. whether it was intentional or not - if it was done on purpose or by accident
37. absolutely reckless - very dangerous and careless
38. my message is clear - what I want to say is simple
39. mounting on innocent civilians - attacking ordinary people
40. violating Allied airspace - entering NATO countries' skies illegally
41. stand ready - are prepared

Second Question

42. Does this tell you anything about - what does this show you about
43. state of NATO's air defences - how good NATO's air protection is
44. relatively new threat - fairly recent danger
45. protect against drones - defend from unmanned aircraft

Second Answer

46. successful reaction - good response
47. one step ahead - better prepared than the enemy