In September 2025, Poland found itself at the center of global attention following an incident involving Russian drones that violated its airspace. The event sparked an intense debate across the Arab world, becoming a point of reference for broader narratives about relations between Russia, NATO, and the West. The report by Zuzanna Kowalczyk, an expert at the Institute for Turkish Studies, offers an in-depth analysis of how Arab media – from Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya to RT Arabic and Sputnik Arabic – interpreted the incident over Poland and how their coverage shaped the image of Poland, Russia, and NATO.
The publication reveals a wide range of narratives: from portraying Poland as a victim of Russian provocation and a loyal NATO ally, to pro-Russian interpretations presenting Warsaw as a participant in the escalation of tensions. The author exposes the mechanisms of Russian disinformation within the Arab media landscape, pointing out the frequent use of themes such as “Western provocation,” “false flag operations,” and claims of a “lack of evidence” for Russia’s culpability.
A particular strength of the report lies in showing that the drone incident became a test of information resilience – both for Poland and for NATO as a whole. The analysis demonstrates that Arab media not only report facts but also shape geopolitical narratives aligned with the interests of regional and global players.
In its concluding section, the author formulates practical recommendations: the need for coherent crisis communication in foreign languages (especially Arabic), continuous media monitoring, media literacy initiatives, and a more active Polish presence in the Middle Eastern information space.
