WARSAW – Poland is moving to revise its laws governing military deployments to grant its armed forces the authority to intercept objects, including Russian drones, over Ukrainian airspace without seeking prior approval from NATO or the European Union.
The proposed legal changes,initially drafted by the defense ministry in june and expected to be expedited,represent a significant shift in Poland’s approach to security along its border with Ukraine. Currently, Polish military deployments require sign-off from both NATO, the EU, and the country where the forces operate – a stipulation added in 2022 by the previous government.The planned amendment aims to restore Warsaw’s independent capacity to respond to perceived threats, operating under a “shoot first, ask later” principle. This move comes after Poland downed what it identified as Russian drones that briefly entered its airspace in September, marking the first instance of a NATO member directly engaging with Russian assets during the conflict.
The 2022 amendment, enacted shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, was later criticized by a commission investigating Russian influence for unduly restricting Poland’s ability to act decisively against cross-border incursions. The current ruling coalition argues that the existing regulations hinder a swift response to potential security breaches.
Under the proposed changes, the president would retain the authority to authorize deployments in situations such as armed conflict, peacekeeping operations, counterterrorism efforts, or evacuation missions. However, the requirement for external approval would be lifted, granting the military greater operational flexibility. according to reports from Gazeta Wyborcza, the draft amendment is being fast-tracked through the legislative process.
