In Estonia, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe Sir Johnny Stringer said that the Alliance may strike targets on the territory of another state if necessary to protect member countries. He said this in an interview with the Estonian outlet Postimees during Estonian Defence Week, ERR News reports.
The Alliance’s defensive nature
Stringer stressed that NATO is a defensive alliance, but that defence sometimes requires offensive action. Asked about the possibility of deep strikes on the territory of Russia—the aggressor state—he replied that in the event of a military conflict, the Alliance may attack targets if this is necessary to guarantee the security of European states.
At the same time, Stringer declined to name possible timeframes for a Russian attack. According to him, a large-scale attack would give NATO certain signs and warnings, while smaller operations can be organized more quickly and require constant readiness.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Defence plans and hybrid threats
Stringer noted that NATO has been developing deterrence and defence plans for the Euro-Atlantic area for several years, paying particular attention to the protection of the three Baltic states. He also said that the course of the so-called three-day special operation, as Russia calls it, which has already been ongoing for its fourth and a half year, has unfolded unsuccessfully for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking about hybrid threats that do not reach the threshold for invoking NATO’s Article 5 on collective defence, Stringer said that a military response is only part of a broader joint reaction. Member states may also impose sanctions and expel diplomats.
According to Stringer, when NATO first shot down drones over Poland in September last year, he was NATO’s commander for air and missile defence. He added that the rules of engagement and the authorization procedure are clearly defined, and that NATO has further developed its approach as the nature of the threat has changed.
Read us on
Download our app
