Former Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Jack Keane warned that Russian drone operations over NATO territory should be treated as clear violations of sovereignty, not minor airspace incidents. He stressed the gravity of the situation given that these are armed drones capable of causing fatalities.
Keane argued the incursions go beyond routine probing and meet the threshold of an Article 5 concern. "This is not a technical breach of an airspace zone — it is sovereignty being violated by lethal weapons," he said, adding that NATO members should consider returning fire when appropriate.
He cautioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s likely next steps could involve deploying hundreds or even thousands of drones. According to Keane, the tactic is designed to force NATO capitals to prioritize their own defense and to sow doubt about continued, robust support for Ukraine.
Keane said Moscow’s strategic aims remain unchanged: secure control of Ukraine, exert influence across Eastern Europe, and fracture the transatlantic alliance. He urged decisive measures to deter escalation and protect NATO unity and member sovereignty.