NATO launches “Eastern Sentry” to bolster posture along Eastern flank.

Sept 2025 : On Friday (12 September 2025), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus G. Grynkewich held a joint press conference to outline NATO’s response to the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones two days earlier. Mr Rutte announced the launch of “Eastern Sentry – a military activity aimed to bolster NATO’s posture along the eastern flank”

In the days to come, Eastern Sentry will involve a range of Allied assets and feature both traditional capabilities and novel technologies, including elements designed to address challenges associated with drones. “Eastern Sentry will add flexibility and strength to our posture”, said the Secretary General. He thanked General Grynkewich for his responsive leadership both in the context of the incursions on 10 September and in guiding the design of this new activity, as well as Admiral Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, for his role in promoting innovative solutions to new challenges, including those posed by the use of drones.

At a meeting of the North Atlantic Council on Wednesday, 10^th. September 2025, Allies had discussed the situation in light of Poland’s request for Article 4 consultations. Mr Rutte noted that while this was the largest concentration of violations of NATO airspace, “what happened on Wednesday was not an isolated incident. Russia’s recklessness in the air along our eastern flank is increasing in frequency”.

The Secretary General highlighted that NATO’s core task to deter aggression and defend every Ally underlines the importance of safeguarding the eastern flank. “This is why we have forward land forces deployed in eight countries, with contributions from every Ally supporting these contingents, and plans in place to scale up our presence if and when required”, he said. He added that Allies across Europe and North America work together every day on strengthening air defences and protecting critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.

Allied Command Operations (ACO), which is responsible for the planning and execution of all NATO operations, will execute Eastern Sentry along NATO’s Eastern flank. It will even further strengthen their posture to shield and protect all Allies. The multi-domain activity, which will commence in the coming days and continue for an undisclosed amount of time, is in response to ongoing airspace violations, including the numerous Russian drones that violated Poland’s airspace on 10^th. September.

The Alliance already responded quickly and decisively to that situation, demonstrating NATO capability and resolve to defend the Alliance, but will now act further to strengthen its posture. “The violation of Poland’s airspace earlier this week is not an isolated incident and impacts more than just Poland”, said General Alexus G. Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe. “While a full assessment of the incident is ongoing, NATO is not waiting, we are acting”.

While the Alliance will strengthen its air defence, “Eastern Sentry and this new approach will deliver even more focused and flexible deterrence and defence where and when needed to protect our people and deter against further reckless and dangerous acts like what occurred earlier this week”, said Grynkewich.

It follows a meeting by the North Atlantic Council, on 10^th. September, where Allies discussed the situation in light of Poland’s request for consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, expressed solidarity with Poland, and denounced Russia’s reckless behaviour. Allies have already begun to announce the deployment of forces and capabilities for Eastern Sentry. Denmark will contribute two F-16s and an anti-air warfare frigate, France will contribute three Rafales, and Germany will contribute four Eurofighters. The United Kingdom has also expressed its willingness to support. These forces and more will reinforce existing Allied forces and enhance NATO’s deterrence and defensive posture where and when needed.

ACO will also work closely with Allied Command Transformation, as it continues to do with Baltic Sentry, to rapidly experiment and field new technologies at Alliance-wide scale, such as counter-drone sensors and weapons to detect, track and kill drones. The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is the military headquarters of ACO.

Team Maverick