German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul have called for a determined yet measured response to alleged Russian provocations during meetings with several European counterparts in Warsaw. The recent airspace violations in multiple EU countries demonstrated “that Russia is increasingly becoming a threat to NATO,” Pistorius said on Monday at the Warsaw Security Forum. Wadephul warned of Russia’s “hybrid aggression” and, like Pistorius, urged maintaining a “cool head.”
Moscow is “testing NATO allies with increasing frequency and intensity,” Pistorius said while seated on stage at the forum alongside his colleagues from the Netherlands and Estonia. Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said, is deliberately trying “to undermine European security and the territorial integrity of European nations.” But, he added, the Kremlin leader would not succeed.
“The alliance has responded to Russia’s provocation with clarity, unity, determination, and prudence,” Pistorius emphasized. “We will not be drawn into Putin’s trap of continuous escalation. We keep a cool head and remain steadfast and resolute.” Wadephul echoed the message: “We keep a cool head and will not be driven into an escalation.”
In recent weeks, NATO members Poland, Estonia, and Romania have reported Russian drones or military aircraft entering their airspace. NATO assessed these as deliberate provocations by Moscow, while the Kremlin rejected the allegations. In Denmark, several drone incidents led to the temporary closure of airports. On Friday night, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) reported that “drone swarms were detected over Schleswig-Holstein.”
In Warsaw, Wadephul met with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot for consultations in the Weimar Triangle format. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha later joined the discussions. Wadephul condemned the recent “wave of hybrid attacks” on NATO states.
“These actions are no accident, but part of a pattern targeting our airspace, our critical infrastructure, and, ultimately, our defense readiness,” he said. “Russia wants to test our determination, it wants to stir unrest. That is dangerous and must be answered clearly and in unity.”
“NATO is vigilant at all times, it is capable of acting at all times, and it protects every inch of our alliance territory,” Wadephul declared. No member state, he stressed, would be left alone in the face of such threats. The message to Moscow, he said, was clear: “Europe and NATO act in unity. We will not be divided. We will not be intimidated.”
Wadephul also called for stronger defenses against drones. “Especially in countering drones, something we discussed intensively today, we must develop our capabilities further, react faster, and link our systems more closely.” Last week, eight EU member states bordering Russia or Ukraine, along with Denmark and Ukraine, held their first talks on plans for a joint defense wall against drones.
The German Foreign Minister also participated in the Warsaw Security Forum. For the afternoon, a one-on-one meeting with Sikorski was scheduled, focusing in particular on bilateral security cooperation.
On Wednesday, EU heads of state and government will gather in Copenhagen for an informal summit, followed on Thursday by a meeting of the European Political Community. France announced on Monday that it had deployed 35 soldiers, a helicopter, and equipment to support drone defense during the two-day gathering. Germany and Sweden had also pledged their assistance in securing the summit.
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
