Russian missiles intended for Ukraine crossed into Poland and killed two Polish civilians on Tuesday. Top Polish leaders are now holding an emergency defense meetings due to a “crisis situation.” Russia pounded Ukraine’s energy facilities Tuesday and U.S. official said missiles crossed into NATO member Poland, where two people were killed.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki convened an urgent meeting of the Committee of the Council of Ministers for National Security and Defense Affairs on Tuesday, with initial reports indicating that stray Russian missiles may have hit a town near the border with Ukraine.
According to Reuters:
Poland is analyzing the possibility of launching an Article 4 procedure — a formal call for consultations among members of the alliance in the face of a security threat.
Article 4 states NATO members will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territory, political independence or security of any of them is threatened.
Under Article 4, discussions at the North Atlantic Council — NATO’s principal political decision-making body — could potentially lead to some form of joint decision or action.
Since NATO’s creation in 1949, Article 4 has been invoked seven times, most recently in Feb. 2022 when eight members sought consultations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
