Poland warns NATO of heightened Russian threat on its eastern flank

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told leaders at a summit in Gdańsk that the security situation on NATO’s eastern flank is “highly unstable” and that the region must prepare for possible Russian escalation. He urged unity among Poland, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden, emphasizing the need for close defence planning and a warning to any aggressor.

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski warned that Moscow could stage a false‑flag attack, likening it to the 1939 Gleiwitz incident, to justify further strikes. He highlighted ongoing hybrid activities, including drone and missile threats, against Baltic states and Poland.

Poland’s defence minister and other eastern‑flank officials called for immediate increases in air‑defence funding, seeking to allocate up to 5 % of GDP to defence by 2027. New radar installations are being built in the Podlasie region, and Romania plans to upgrade its air‑defence network with EU‑funded radar stations.

The warnings come amid reports of increased Russian troop movements near the Belarus border and a broader concern that NATO’s eastern perimeter remains vulnerable without faster modernisation and greater financial commitment.