Germany ends air defense mission in Poland but pledges continued NATO support
Photo: Germany has withdrawn its air defense systems that protected the skies over Poland (Getty Images)
Germany has concluded its air defense mission in Poland and has withdrawn its Patriot systems, while pledging ongoing support for NATO's eastern flank, Sky News reports.
The German Ministry of Defense said its operational group for air and missile defense has completed its mission in Poland and that the Patriot systems have been returned to Germany.
The ministry emphasized that support for NATO's eastern flank will remain unchanged.
"Even after the Patriot systems have been relocated, Germany will continue to make numerous contributions to protecting the eastern flank of the alliance territory and our partners," the statement says.
The Patriot systems helped bolster Poland's security along the border with Ukraine, protecting the logistics hub for international military aid to Ukraine.
Unknown drones in Poland
On the night of 10 September, dozens of Russian drones violated Polish airspace. Air defense forces shot down four drones, while the rest crashed or were detected in 11 settlements, including one on the territory of a military base.
According to Polish media reports, some of the unknown drones may have been aimed at a NATO base in Poland.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called the Alliance's response "very successful," highlighting NATO's readiness to defend every inch of its territory, including airspace.
Following the incident, on 13 September, NATO launched the Eastern Sentry operation in Poland to strengthen the defense of Europe's eastern flank in response to the drone incursions.
It later emerged that on the night of 9-10 September, the situation was more serious than previously thought, as some drones carried explosives.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said the drones could technically carry munitions but were unarmed at the time.
