NATO is preparing response to Russia’s hybrid threats, but does not want escalation, - Admiral Dragone
NATO views Russia’s actions against Alliance countries as hybrid threats, but seeks to respond to them in a way that prevents escalation. In the event of a direct attack on a member state, Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty will come into effect.
According to Censor.NET, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, made this statement in an interview with Ukrinform.
He noted that the Alliance considers Russian arson attacks on military facilities, attempts to assassinate specific individuals, and the use of drones against European countries to be hybrid threats.
According to the admiral, NATO must first identify the source of the threat and determine who exactly is behind a specific attack.
At the same time, the Alliance is already taking countermeasures—in particular, strengthening border security and developing cyber capabilities.
"There are also non-public measures that we are taking specifically for defense purposes. I want to emphasize that this is specifically to defend the Alliance," he stressed.
NATO does not want to allow an escalation
Commenting on possible operations by Russia under a "false flag," the admiral noted that in such cases, it is necessary to first clearly identify the perpetrator.
According to him, the response must be measured and appropriate so as not to lead to further escalation.
"Let me give you an example: how many times have you seen Alliance drones violate Russian airspace? NATO is about defense. We are working to prevent escalation. That is in no one's interest," said the Alliance representative.
A direct attack would trigger Article 5
At the same time, the admiral clearly distinguished between hybrid attacks and a direct attack on a NATO member country.
"But a direct attack—that falls under Article 5. It's very simple," he said.
Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty stipulates that an armed attack against one or more members of the Alliance shall be considered an attack against all.
NATO has rejected accusations that it is preparing for aggression
Commenting on the bellicose rhetoric of the Russian leadership, the admiral emphasized that NATO remains a defensive alliance.
He also explained the military exercises being conducted in the Baltic Sea. According to him, this is a routine training exercise, similar to the exercises Belarus conducts near NATO’s borders.
"We're not a threat to anyone. This is our standard practice, and there's no need to make a fuss," the admiral said.
