Are We on the Brink of World War Three?

In short, no, but if Russia continues on its current path, the possibility cannot be dismissed entirely. 

When news broke that Poland had invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty, the world quickly erupted with questions about how this would affect global security and international relations. According to CNN, Poland called for a NATO meeting after Russian drones entered into Polish airspace on September 9, 2025. 

To clarify, according to NATO, Article 4 of its founding treaty states that “The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened.” Invoking Article 4 does not mean war: it is simply a meeting where NATO members decide collectively what to do about a situation or threat. While it remains unclear whether the drone incident was deliberate or accidental, NATO is not taking any chances.

According to Newsweek, allies have rallied behind Poland, declaring their solidarity. If another incident occurs, Article 5 could be invoked or NATO could consider retaliatory measures. NATO’s Article 5 states that an armed attack on one NATO ally is considered an attack against all, requiring assistance from every member state. If triggered, this clause could set the stage for direct conflict with Russia, potentially igniting the very war that the world currently fears.

This is not the first time that Poland has invoked Article 4. In 2022, Poland invoked Article 4 in response to Russia’s invasion, along with six other NATO members bordering Ukraine. It is important to know that invoking Article 4 does not automatically lead to Article 5’s collective defense stipulation. In fact, CBC News states, Article 4 has been used several times throughout NATO’s history without leading to escalation of the conflict. 

The stakes remain high, but the real question is whether Russia would risk attacking a NATO member knowing that it has the backing of all 31 member countries. At the same time, there is no guarantee on how NATO itself will act: consultation does not always equal confrontation. What is certain is that if NATO determines that the threat is real and imminent, it will act to protect its members, especially if Russia carries out further attacks on Poland or neighboring NATO countries. Whether this incident fades into the background or escalates into something larger doesn’t just depend on Russia or NATO but on the international community as a whole. For now, our best hope to prevent another world war lies in diplomacy, unity, and restraint.