Two Polish citizens were killed yesterday in a missile blast. The incident is causing high tensions and divisions within NATO.
Tensions were high yesterday evening, as a missile struck NATO territory in Poland killing two. The blast happened a few kilometers from the Ukrainian border, after an eventful day with Russia issuing a carpet bombing over Ukraine. Immediately, Poland mobilized the armed forces and called for a defense meeting with NATO.
Initially, the missile was thought to be Russian made. It seemed to be an errant rocket aimed at West Ukraine along with dozens of others, except this went off course and hit Poland. Then, pictures of the debris showed it could have been a Ukrainian Anti-Air missile instead.
Analysts are still debating, and NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg urged patience. He tweeted that “all facts should be established” first, then declaring that there was no sign of a planned Russian attack. US President Joe Biden mirrored this declaration, stating that an Ukrainian missile caused the blast according to American intelligence.
Spoke with President Duda @prezydentpl about the explosion in #Poland. I offered my condolences for the loss of life. #NATO is monitoring the situation and Allies are closely consulting. Important that all facts are established.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) November 15, 2022
A CNN report on Wednesday confirmed that Ukraine was deploying anti-air missiles near the border with Poland. The Ukrainian military showed US and allies the precise position and actions of its anti-air defenses.
European leaders, however, defended Ukraine. According to them, Ukraine had every right to defend herself, and nothing would have happened without the Russian missile strike in the first place.
What will NATO do
“It doesn’t matter that the missile that fell on Poland could not have been Russian,” said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, “because Moscow is still responsible for missile attacks on Ukraine.”
A similar statement was made a few minutes earlier by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Both leaders are attending the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia and received news of the blast at the same time.
NATO members Lithuania and Estonia immediately proposed a defense system in East Europe to prevent a similar incident. It is still not clear if Poland will invoke NATO Article 4, the one regarding “the territorial integrity, political independence or security” of any member.
Polish President Duda affirms they have no evidence that the missile which killed two of his own citizens was fired by Russia. He, however, still blames Russia for the strike and the invasion.
In general, it seems that the United States are calling for caution while Europe drags their feet. It is unlikely that this situation will escalate, but if preventive military measures are taken the war could get even more serious.
While NATO is divided on what to do, Vladimir Putin takes notes in the Kremlin.
