Overview

• Secretary General Mark Rutte and SACEUR Gen. James Hecker announced reinforced defenses across eastern member states, formalized under the Eastern Watch posture.
• SHAPE detailed added assets, including two Danish F-16s and an air-defense frigate and French Rafale fighters, building on earlier Dutch F-35 and Italian surveillance deployments.
• More than 45 countries, including Japan, Poland, and the United States, issued a joint statement condemning the reported incursions as a clear breach of international law and the UN Charter.
• At the UN meeting, the United States reaffirmed it will defend NATO territory to its farthest reaches and supported consultations under NATO’s Article 4 mechanism.
• Russia’s UN ambassador denied any violation, questioned attribution, offered cooperation with investigations, and Moscow began joint military exercises with Belarus.