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NATO is thinking about a preemptive strike against Russia in response to cyber attacks, sabotage, and airspace breaches, its top military officer said, hinting at a shift from reacting after incidents to acting ahead of them.
According to the Financial Times, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of NATO’s Military Committee, said a preemptive strike could be considered defensive in some cases, though it’s a big change from the alliance’s usual cautious approach. “Right now, we mostly respond after the fact. Considering a preemptive strike is something we are looking into,” he said.
Europe has seen hybrid threats ramp up in recent years—from underwater cables cut in the Baltic Sea to widespread cyber attacks. Eastern European diplomats have urged NATO to stop just reacting and start preventing future attacks, especially in cyberspace, where offensive tools already exist.
NATO’s Baltic Sentry mission has helped deter sabotage, with ships, drones, and aircraft patrolling critical undersea cables. “Since Baltic Sentry began, nothing has happened. That shows deterrence can work,” Dragone said.
Legal and ethical limits complicate matters. A Finnish court recently cleared a ship accused of cutting cables in international waters, showing the challenges NATO faces in enforcement.
Russia responded angrily. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called Dragone’s comments “extremely irresponsible” and accused NATO of moving toward escalation. She warned such remarks could undermine efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis.
For now, NATO is focused on deterrence, carefully weighing whether retaliation, preemptive strikes, or other measures are the best way to stop future threats.
*With information from the Financial Times and Reuters.
