French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday, September 11, that France will deploy three Rafale fighter jets to Poland to help safeguard its airspace. The decision comes after Warsaw accused Russia of carrying out a drone raid that breached Polish territory.
“Following Russian drone incursions into Poland, I have decided to deploy three Rafale fighter jets to help protect Polish airspace and Europe’s eastern flank alongside our NATO allies,” Macron said on X. He added that he had made the commitment directly to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The French president further noted that he had discussed the matter with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “We will not give in to Russia’s increasing intimidation,” Macron declared, reiterating his stance that NATO unity was essential to counter Moscow’s growing aggression.
Poland described the drone intrusion as “unprecedented,” with Prime Minister Tusk confirming that its airspace was violated 19 times during the attack on Ukraine. At least three drones were shot down after Polish and allied aircraft were scrambled in response.
The drone incidents occurred more than three years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, further raising regional tensions. While Warsaw insists the violations mark a deliberate provocation, Moscow has denied targeting Polish territory.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned the incident during calls with both Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “In both calls, the leaders condemned the shocking Russian violation of NATO and Poland’s airspace,” a Downing Street spokesperson said. Starmer reportedly assured that the UK stood ready to support further NATO deployments.
The situation has prompted urgent diplomatic and military discussions across Europe. On Wednesday, Poland convened its NATO allies for talks, highlighting the threat posed by Moscow’s escalating tactics. Macron’s deployment announcement underscores France’s intention to play a leading role in reinforcing collective security.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet on Friday in an emergency session, following a request from Poland. The meeting will focus on the implications of the drone attacks and potential measures to prevent further violations.
For Macron, the decision reflects both France’s commitment to NATO and his broader diplomatic efforts to curb Russia’s war in Ukraine. By sending Rafale jets, Paris signals solidarity with Warsaw while delivering a clear warning to Moscow against further provocations.
The deployment adds to NATO’s growing presence along its eastern flank, with European allies increasingly concerned that Russia’s actions could spill beyond Ukraine. For Poland, the French support offers reassurance at a time when its security has been directly challenged.
As the crisis unfolds, the incident is expected to test NATO’s ability to respond collectively and maintain deterrence, while also putting renewed pressure on Russia to limit its military operations to Ukrainian territory.