SECURITY: NATO Launches Eastern Sentry To Bolster Defence Of Border With Russia

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus G. Grynkewich have delivered a joint press conference on the Russian drone incursion at NATO HQ in Brussels, announcing the launch of ‘Eastern Sentry”, a security initiative to bolster defensive posture on NATO's Eastern flank with assets from Denmark, France, the UK, Germany, and others. 

• Rutte said NATO defences “successfully ensured the defence of NATO territory,” adding that “what happened on Wednesday was not an isolated incident. Russia’s recklessness in the air is increasing in frequency.”
• Rutte says NATO is looking into whether the drone incursion was “intentional or not”. Says NATO allies “expressed full solidarity with Poland” following their request for Article 4 consultations.”
• Grynkewich says the “immediacy of the focus is on Poland” but the situation transcends the borders of one nation. Says he has issued the order tonight for Eastern Sentry to begin.
• Grynkewich says a primary focus of Eastern Sentry is to establish lower-cost solutions to repelling any future incursions of NATO territory.
• Pressed on reporters on what appears to have been a lukewarm American response, Rutte says the American reaction, “was very clear by [Trump] and the US ambassador…  America’s commitment to NATO is ironclad in every sense, there is no doubt… I was very happy with the American reaction.” 
• Grynkewich, a US general, says American assets were not involved in the engagement due to regular rotation but stresses America’s commitment to the alliance.