NATO ready to respond to any Russian provocation or attack, Alliance general says
NATO says it is fully prepared for Russian provocations (photo: Getty Images)
NATO is ready to respond to potential escalation and provocations by Russia on Europe's eastern flank, according to NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.
Alliance response to threats
The Alliance military leadership confirms it is fully ready to defend the borders of its member states.
Dragone says the Alliance's structure, troops, and weapons are on alert, while efforts to increase its forces and enhance capabilities continue.
"Russia's reckless behavior over the last weeks and months continues to test allied resolve and aims to undermine trust and weaken our unity. I want to be clear—these attempts are not dividing us. They are sharpening our tools, making us much more united and determined," the NATO Military Committee chair stressed.
Defense plans, risk assessment
The commander said NATO has defense plans in place for any potential development on the eastern flank.
- The Alliance has 4,000 pages of military plans for defending its territory.
- The scenarios cover everything from a limited crisis to a large-scale intervention.
- In the event of an armed attack, allies know exactly what steps to take.
"The alliance is ready, the structure is ready, the soldiers … the weapons are ready. In case of an attack, we know how to do it," Dragone emphasized.
Warnings from European leaders
The military commander's statements come amid growing concern in Europe over possible provocations by Moscow.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in particular, warned that Russia could send drones or missiles into NATO territory in the coming months to test the Alliance's response.
Similar risks have been confirmed in France and the Netherlands.
In recent weeks, there has also been an increase in airspace violations in European countries and attempted acts of sabotage amid Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
Russian 'false flag' threats
Recently, Lithuania said it had received intelligence indicating that Russia may be preparing "false flag" operations to test NATO's readiness to respond.
In addition, Russian intelligence services have stepped up hybrid attacks on European infrastructure that facilitates aid to Ukraine. Poland has stressed that the Kremlin's main goal remains to destabilize railways, bridges and border areas.
