Czech President Petr Pavel urges NATO to show strength against Russian provocations

President Petr Pavel said NATO must respond more forcefully to repeated Russian provocations on the alliance’s eastern flank, warning that Moscow tests NATO’s patience without triggering Article 5. He called for “showing its teeth” and suggested possible asymmetric steps such as cutting Russian access to the internet, satellite services, global financial systems, and even shooting down unmanned or piloted aircraft that breach allied airspace. Pavel cited recent drone incidents over the Baltic states – an Estonian shoot‑down, plus disturbances in Latvia and Lithuania – where Ukrainian drones were diverted toward Russian territory by electronic warfare. He warned that without decisive defence of current rules, Russia will continue to push further.