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Eastern Sentry to enhance NATO's presence along its Eastern flank

NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE)

Sep 12 2025

MONS, Belgium -- 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 our 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 September 10.

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."

The Alliance will also 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, September 10, 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.

For more information, visit www.nato.in or https://shape.nato.int/.