NATO figured out how to counter Putin, who has reached a dead end

Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe James Stavridis, in a Bloomberg column, outlined measures to counter Russia, which he says is increasing hybrid pressure on European countries. He calls on NATO to improve intelligence, disclose evidence, strengthen sanctions, and create rapid response mechanisms, including mobile air defense and drone interception. He also proposes increasing military support for Ukraine.

Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe James Stavridis, in a Bloomberg column, outlined a set of measures to counter Russia, which he says is increasing hybrid pressure on European states. Stavridis lists a series of incidents: an armed drone near Leipzig airport, damage to undersea cables in the Baltic, parcel explosions at logistics facilities in Germany, Poland, and the UK, an attempted arson at a bus depot in the Czech Republic, an explosion on a Polish railway, and cyberattacks. Russia denies involvement, but Western intelligence agencies, according to the admiral, link these actions to Russian structures. Stavridis calls on NATO to improve intelligence work, more actively disclose evidence, strengthen sanctions pressure, and create rapid response mechanisms, including mobile air defense to protect airports and critical infrastructure, as well as constant fighter readiness to intercept drones. Separately, he proposes increasing supplies of modern offensive weapons to Ukraine, pointing to the Ukrainian military's ability to strike at significant distances. A more controversial part is the possibility of NATO cyber retaliation, including targeting facilities in the Kaliningrad region. Stavridis acknowledges that such a strategy carries risks of escalation and calls for pre-defining acceptable forms of response.

NATO figured out how to counter Putin, who has reached a dead end