NATO Commander to Russia: Any Attack on the Alliance Would Be “Utterly Futile”

NATO’s top military commander in Europe, Alexus Grynkewich, has warned Russia that any attack on the alliance would be “utterly futile,” while acknowledging that Moscow’s hybrid campaign is making European societies increasingly uneasy.

Grynkewich, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said at the Warsaw Security Forum that he did not consider a conflict imminent or inevitable, but recognized the anxiety caused by sabotage and arson across the alliance.

“And what I want to do is assure the 1bn citizens of our alliance that: we’ve got this. We know what we need to do, we know how we can do it,” Grynkewich said.

He also warned anyone considering hostile action against NATO that the alliance was prepared to defend itself and knew how it would respond.

A series of attacks attributed to Russia in recent months has alarmed European capitals. The incidents include a foiled explosive drone attack on a German airport, the destruction of a Polish railway line, and various arson and cyberattacks. The incidents have fueled concerns that Europe’s deterrence is failing to restrain Moscow’s sense of impunity.

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski has called on NATO members to prepare a robust response to a potentially deadly Russian hybrid attack as Moscow’s destabilization campaign intensifies.

Officials from five European intelligence agencies have warned that Russian operatives are targeting senior executives at European defense companies for assassination. German intelligence services have also recently warned that Moscow’s “shadow war” is entering a potentially deadly phase.

Grynkewich urged national governments to publicly attribute attacks to Russia once responsibility has been established, arguing that Moscow believes it can act without consequences. He also called for greater support for Ukraine, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to weaken assistance for Kyiv’s defense while testing NATO’s resolve and unity.

Grynkewich also outlined NATO’s new “theory of victory,” which is intended to “block, blunt and break” enemy actions.

“We will stop the attack and deny them the ability to achieve their objectives, whatever those might be,” Grynkewich said. He added that NATO would ensure any attack against any member proved “utterly futile.”