Article 4: Poland seeks Nato members' help after Russian drone incursion

Poland has activated Nato's Article 4 after Russia sent drones into its airspace.

The country reported 19 breaches on Wednesday, and in response Nato jets helped Poland intercept the Russian drones, shooting down several of them.

It was the first time since the full-scale war in Ukraine began that Poland had directly engaged Russian assets in its airspace, forcing the country to trigger Article 4.

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What is Article 4 and what does it mean now?

Invoking Article 4 is Nato's way of saying "we need to talk".

This contrasts with the more well known Article 5, Nato's core principle, which sees an attack on one Nato member being an attack on them all.

Article 5 has only been activated once following the 9/11 attacks, where four coordinated terrorist attacks were carried out by Al Qaeda against the United States in 2001 - resulting in thousands of deaths.

Nato allies joined the US in a military response to the attacks.

In contrast, Article 4 has been invoked eight times in Nato's history.

Any member can call it if they feel threatened and it forces the alliance around the table urgently.

A discussion is brought to the attention of Nato's principal decision-making body - the North Atlantic Council - to discuss the next steps the allies will take.

Once invoked, the members make a joint decision on what to do.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said on X: "We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn't. And we know it."

Following the North Atlantic Council meeting on Wednesday, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said: "Allies expressed solidarity with Poland and denounced Russia's reckless behaviour.

"A full assessment of the incident is ongoing."

Mr Rutte said Nato would continue to monitor the situation along the eastern flank, with air defences at the ready.

Ukraine invasion sparked Article 4

Article 4 states: "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."

In 2022 it was invoked by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia after Russia launched its full-scale invasion on Ukraine.

Never had so many nations made the call at the same time.