The United States told the United Nations Security Council on Friday it would "defend every inch of NATO territory" after a suspected Russian drone incursion into Poland.

NATO has launched an initiative to reinforce the defense of Europe’s eastern flank after a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace this week, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced on Friday.

NATO will launch a new deterrence initiative called "Eastern Sentry" in response to Russia's drone attack on Poland, the military alliance's secretary general Mark Rutte announced on Sept. 12.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO has focused on trying to deter an attack on its own territory and avoid all-out war with nuclear armed Russia. Now the time has come for NATO to defend itself, and European allies might have to do it alone, experts and leaders say.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called Russia's behavior "reckless" after several drones from the country crossed into Poland, violating NATO airspace.

Polish F-16 fighters, Dutch F-35 fighters, German Patriot air defense systems and an Italian AWACS surveillance aircraft were all deployed, and three of the drones were downed. Others crashed, including near villages in eastern Poland.

Poland has called for a meeting with NATO officials after invoking Article 4 of the alliance's charter and will review the incident and share the findings with its allies. Meanwhile, the fallout from the airspace breach continues to heighten tensions between Russia and the West.