NATO to give commander more power to fight drones after Romania attacks

NATO allies are close to approving a proposal that would give the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, expanded authority to set alert levels and reallocate defence assets without needing each member state's formal consent. The change is driven by a rise in aerial threats on the alliance's eastern flank, highlighted by a Russian drone that struck a residential block in Galaţi, Romania, injuring two people and prompting the evacuation of dozens, and a maritime drone that self‑detonated in the Port of Constanţa without causing casualties. Similar incursions have been reported in Poland, Estonia and Latvia. The proposal would relax national “caveats,” allowing faster redistribution of air‑defence systems and integration of NATO’s anti‑air and anti‑missile capabilities into air‑policing missions. Officials say the aim is to have the new rules in place before the NATO summit in Ankara on 7‑8 July. “States always look to NATO when a drone enters their airspace,” a NATO official said, adding that member nations must also “do their part.”