Poland has requested the activation of Article 4 of NATO’s treaty over the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Sept. 10.
I haven’t read anywhere what the assumed target was, if there was one. Anybody know?
I don’t think there was any specific target. They’re testing NATO readiness and defences.
As The Times reports about the drones shot down in Poland:
The Shahed 136 — or Geran 2 in Russian — has become the most frequently used in the Ukraine war. Russia has begun mass producing them on their own soil.
The plant in Alabuga in the Tatarstan region of Russia, is staffed primarily with migrant labour, some of which is from Africa. Japanese media also reported that the supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, is to send 25,000 workers there.
Not everything is made in Russia. The four-cylinder engine is made by a Chinese company, Xiamen Limbach, while the high-tech parts of the drone — the signal generators and converters — are manufactured by the Beijing Microelectronics Technology Institute.
The four-cylinder engine is made by a Chinese company, Xiamen Limbach
…which was a German company bought by the Chinese in 2011.
It was and is a problem to carelessly have sold so much industry to them.
Ehh… The engine is a just a little 50hp thing designed in the 80s. I am quite sure Iran could do that by themselves with or without China or Germany being involved
Looking briefly, it appears the current owner basically bought the company out of bankruptcy. It doesn’t appear that the motors are particularly novel.
The owner is a dual German/Chinese national, be was done so at a time of amicable relations. Even today such a sale would (IMHO) likely not be seen as geopolitically significant.
Yet we have the problem that a company seated in Germany but Chinese-owned is propelling the tools used by enemies of ours to wage a war against a country that wishes to align with us.
Note that invoking Article 4 is basically requesting a conference among NATO members on a security problem. It’s not a “situation normal” sort of thing, but it’s Article 5 that deals with conflict.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_17120.htm
Article 4
The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.
Article 5
The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security .
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49187.htm
Since the Alliance’s creation in 1949, Article 4 has been invoked seven times:
- On 10 February 2003, Türkiye formally invoked Article 4, asking for consultations in the NAC on defensive assistance from NATO in the event of a threat to its population or territory resulting from armed conflict in neighbouring Iraq. NATO agreed a package of defensive measures and conducted Operation Display Deterrence from the end of February to early May 2003.
- On 22 June 2012, Türkiye requested a NAC meeting under Article 4 after one of its fighter jets was shot down by Syrian air defence forces.
- On 3 October 2012, Türkiye requested Article 4 NAC consultations when five Turkish civilians were killed by Syrian shells. Following these incidents, on 21 November 2012, Türkiye requested the deployment of Patriot missiles. NATO agreed to this defensive measure to help Türkiye defend its population and territory, and to help de-escalate the crisis along the border.
- On 3 March 2014, Poland invoked Article 4 following increasing tensions in neighbouring Ukraine, as a result of Russia’s aggressive actions.
- On 26 July 2015, Türkiye requested that the NAC convene in view of the seriousness of the situation following terrorist attacks, and to inform Allies of the measures it was taking.
- On 28 February 2020, Türkiye requested consultations following the death of Turkish soldiers in air strikes by the Syrian regime and its backer Russia in Idlib province.
- On 24 February 2022, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia requested to hold consultations under Article 4 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
It’s not a “situation normal” sort of thing, but it’s Article 5 that deals with conflict.
Then I’d say it’s the best thing to do currently.
It is also a clear signal that this behaviour won’t be tolerated much longer. This time, it’s Article 4, next time…
Next time poland may march into moscova once more
