NATO will react to Russian missiles reportedly crossing into Poland, killing two, international relations expert Robert Patman says.
Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Patman said if the strikes in Poland are deliberate, there will be an Article 5 response.
“Mr Biden’s always been very clear on this, and he’s warned Mr Putin repeatedly, he said every inch of NATO territory would be defended.
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Article 5 is the principle of collective defence, meaning if one member state is attacked, it’s considered an attack against all.
Patman said he thinks there will definitely be a reaction from NATO, it just depends how big the reaction will be.
He said if it’s a stray missile intended for western Ukraine, which he think it could be, there will still be a strong response.
“It may be increasing provision of weaponry for Ukraine.
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Patman said it’s important to remember NATO has played a “balancing act” by not giving Ukraine all the weaponry they’ve wanted.
“Those sort of restraints may be abandoned in light of this episode. ”
Patman said it seems like a major “blunder” by the Putin regime but not unpredictable given Russia’s lack of success on the ground in Ukraine.
“The Ukrainians are winning the war on the ground, they have liberated 77,000km of territory in their counteroffensive since the beginning of September.
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He added he doesn’t think there will be a response from Putin’s government but if Russia wants to avoid escalation, that may be a “sensible” move.
Russia’s defence ministry has said it hasn’t carried out any strikes near the Polish-Ukrainian border. It has called the reports a “deliberate provocation in order to escalate the situation”.
The Polish government has said it’s holding an emergency meeting due to a “crisis situation”..
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