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NATO response to Russian hybrid threats and internal tension

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2026-10-16 16:05 UTC → 2026-10-17 04:33 UTC · added ~~removed~~

NATO leadership and military commanders are addressing a rise in Russian hybrid warfare, including sabotage, arson, and cyberattacks. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged member states to publicly attribute such acts to the Russian Federation when evidence exists, citing Estonia’s recent attribution of an arson attack to Russian special services as a precedent. In a recent interview with Der Spiegel, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich, reaffirmed that the alliance maintains significant military superiority over Russia in a conventional conflict. He noted that Russia lacks critical modern assets, such as F-35 fighter jets and the extensive fleet of modern destroyers and submarines held by NATO. Grynkewich argued that because of this conventional deterrence, Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to launch a large-scale conventional attack on Europe. Instead, he asserted that Russia is resorting to non-conventional methods, including sabotage, arson, and terrorist attacks, because it lacks other viable options. He characterized these subversive actions as a ‘dangerous game’ intended to convince Western populations that supporting Ukraine is too risky. Grynkewich emphasized that NATO must maintain deterrence through military modernization, large-scale exercises, and a clear ‘theory of victory’ involving immediate and decisive retaliation against any incursion into alliance territory. He further argued that the term ‘hybrid attacks’ is too vague and should be precisely defined as sabotage or terrorism to ensure clear responses. Regarding the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, Grynkewich asserted that NATO is a defensive alliance that will only act if attacked, noting that the war in Ukraine has weakened Russian forces in Kaliningrad while NATO has strengthened its presence in the Baltic region. These security concerns coincide with internal diplomatic friction within the ~~alliance. Tensions have risen~~ alliance following shifts in United States ~~policy, specifically~~ policy regarding ~~a Pentagon-led working group in Poland focused on~~ alliance ~~restructuring.~~ restructuring in Poland.

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