Polko on NATO’s Air Defense Disunity and the Need for Consistency
General Roman Polko discusses the lack of cohesion within NATO on air defense and the importance of clear actions. He also comments on Trump's stance on supporting NATO.
In an interview with Wirtualna Polska, former commander of the GROM special forces, General Roman Polko, highlighted a lack of cohesion among NATO allies regarding the defense of the alliance’s airspace.
Polko commented on a recent statement by US President Donald Trump, who was asked whether Washington would support NATO allies if they began shooting down Russian aircraft violating their airspace. Trump replied, saying that «it depends on the circumstances, but yes, we strongly support NATO».
Polko expressed his dissatisfaction with Trump’s response, emphasizing the importance of understanding security. He pointed out that if NATO aircraft were to enter Russian airspace, there would be no hesitation in taking action, and no one would question the response.
Polko also warned that NATO’s internal disunity could be exploited by the alliance’s adversaries. Despite this, he acknowledged that Trump’s comment clarified the position of the US administration regarding the downing of enemy targets.
In Polko’s view, consistency is key in this matter. He believes the United States must establish a clear «red line» for Russia, signaling where NATO stands on the issue of airspace violations.