NATO commander Grynkewich warns Russia attack would be ‘utterly futile’

NATO’s top commander on Monday warned Russia that his forces would destroy “anything and everything” involved in an attack if Moscow was “foolish enough” to launch an assault on alliance territory.

Outlining his “theory of victory” at a security conference in Warsaw, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich said NATO was a defensive alliance but would block, blunt and break any attack against its members to ensure it proved “utterly futile”.

Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, made the remarks amid rising tensions between European nations and Russia.

European governments have accused Moscow of intensifying a campaign of sabotage, drone incursions and cyberattacks against them. Russia also warned last month that it would use nuclear weapons if NATO attempted to cut off its exclave of Kaliningrad.

Although Grynkewich did not explicitly mention Russia by name in his speech at the Warsaw Security Forum, his message was clearly directed at Moscow. NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept identifies Russia as the most significant threat to the alliance’s security.

“If someone is foolish enough to attack us, we will fight,” he said. “We will stop the attack and deny them the ability to achieve their objectives, whatever those might be. We will, in short, ensure any attack, against any ally, proves utterly futile.”

Grynkewich warned that NATO’s response, if necessary, would involve massive retaliation extending far beyond the forces directly involved in an attack.

“Should the adversary choose to press the attack or commit his reserves, we will break the warfighting system engaged against us,” he said.

“This includes not just the attacking force itself, but anything and everything that supports, sustains, and controls that force.”

Credit: Reuters