Germany boosts NATO air patrols in response to Poland drone incursion

Germany is to boost its commitments on NATO's eastern flank with additional fighter jet surveillance after Poland said it shot down Russian drones over its airspace.

Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said the German military, the Bundeswehr, would "extend and expand" air policing over Poland.

The move comes after Warsaw recorded 19 violations of its airspace by Russian drones on Tuesday night and Wednesday, sparking international condemnation and backing for Poland from its EU and NATO allies.

Russia has denied responsibility for the incident.

The Bundeswehr already has two Eurofighter jets carrying out reconnaissance flights over Poland from their base near the northern German city of Rostock.

The number of aircraft will now be doubled to four, the Defence Ministry has announced.

In addition, the deployment, which was previously only planned until September 30, is to be extended, initially until December 31.

Kornelius said the German government would also be intensifying its support for Ukraine.

In the European Union, Germany will work towards the rapid adoption of a "robust 19th sanctions package" in order to put further pressure on Russia, the spokesman said.

Berlin's response follows comments by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Wednesday he did not believe the violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones to be an accident.

Merz said he saw the incident as "a very serious threat to peace throughout Europe."

NATO's air defence worked, but not as well as it should have, the chancellor argued. "This will trigger discussions in NATO. Of course, this will also trigger discussions in the European Union."

"We are and will remain ready to defend ourselves and we are and will remain determined to significantly increase the defence readiness and defence capability of the European part of NATO," Merz added.