Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace, NATO Consults Under Article 4

Recent incursions by Russian drones into Polish airspace have heightened tensions between Russia and NATO, with evidence suggesting these were deliberate gray-zone probes rather than accidental violations. The drones, likely used for surveillance or as decoys, were quickly shot down by Polish forces, but the incident risks escalating conflict given Poland's NATO membership. Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be testing NATO's resolve and seeking to fracture the alliance by provoking responses that could sow division among Western nations. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has advocated for aggressive economic measures against countries trading with Russia, such as imposing tariffs on China and India, but experts argue this misunderstands Putin's motivations and may fail to end the conflict. Putin's broader strategy aims to conquer Ukraine and reassert dominance over Eastern Europe without triggering a full-scale war with NATO, relying instead on calculated provocations to weaken Western unity. Analysts stress that NATO should respond firmly and proportionately, enhancing defense capabilities and shooting down hostile drones to prevent Putin from appearing to dominate or intimidate the alliance.