Edward Lucas warns of NATO's inability to deter Russian hybrid warfare

Security expert Edward Lucas warns that NATO and Western democracies are failing to deter Russian hybrid warfare. He argues that Moscow utilizes a combination of financial influence, ideology, and coercion to undermine Western stability, noting that current sanctions are often ineffective due to poor enforcement.

Lucas highlights a recent drone attack on an airport in Leipzig, Germany, as a warning sign. He suggests the attack may involve individuals linked to Russian military intelligence (GRU). He points to security gaps, such as the failure to actively monitor a Russian national with GRU ties entering Germany, as evidence of insufficient deterrence.

In the context of Slovakia, Lucas notes a contradiction where the government has halted military aid to Ukraine while domestic companies continue to supply the Ukrainian military through commercial sales. He suggests that the current wave of Russian state-sponsored terrorism represents a broad plan to dismantle NATO and the US-led security architecture, a threat he believes European neighbors are not taking seriously enough.