"We are giving an asymmetric response," NATO considers armed response to Putin's hybrid warfare
NATO allies are discussing a stronger response to Vladimir Putin’s increasingly provocative actions, including deploying armed drones along the border with Russia and easing restrictions on pilots to allow them to open fire on Russian aircraft. The talks aim to increase the costs to Moscow of its “hybrid warfare” and outline clear countermeasures after a wave of airspace violations by Russian drones and fighter jets, according to four NATO officials briefed on the talks.
Frontline states bordering Russia, backed by France and the United Kingdom, have begun discussions, which have since expanded to a larger group in the 32-member alliance, the Financial Times quotes.
The proposals include arming surveillance drones used to gather intelligence on Russian military activities and lowering standards for pilots patrolling the eastern border to eliminate Russian threats. Another option is to conduct NATO military exercises on the border with Russia, especially in the most remote and vulnerable parts of the border.
Donald Trump last month said NATO should open fire on Russian planes that violate allied territory. The US president's comments came after a series of Russian provocations, including the first direct confrontation between NATO aircraft and Russian drones since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In addition to that encounter in Polish airspace, Russian drones have also entered Romanian territory and MiG fighter jets have crossed into Estonian airspace, writes A2 CNN.
Matthew Whittaker, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, said last week that he was “working every day” with allies to ensure that “we have better capabilities in asymmetric … and hybrid warfare.” He said it was important to “make sure we have enough scale in the escalation.” Two of the NATO officials said one urgent issue was improving the rules of engagement along the eastern flank. Some countries require fighter pilots to make visual confirmation of threats before engaging, while others allow them to open fire based on radar data or perceived danger from the direction or speed of the hostile object. The talks, which began in a small group of countries directly affected, have now morphed into a broader discussion, two of the officials said, as other allied capitals recognize the broader threat posed by Moscow’s destabilization campaign.
Some capitals are also pushing for a more aggressive NATO posture as a means of deterrence, one of the officials said. Other allies are advising a more conservative response, given the risks of directly confronting a nuclear power like Russia. There is no timeline or obligation to agree on any change in stance, and a change may not be communicated publicly, the four officials warned. (A2 Television)
