WARSAW, Poland — NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe told a security conference on Monday that the alliance is prepared to dismantle “anything and everything” supporting an enemy offensive if allied borders are breached.
Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich unveiled an operational blueprint designed to deter potential aggression against any of NATO’s 32 member states. While Grynkewich did not explicitly name Russia, his remarks came as European leaders face escalating concerns over airspace violations, sabotage and the broader war in Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported.
“We will block the initial attack. If the attack persists, we will blunt it and prevent any enemy advance,” Grynkewich said. “And if required, we will break the enemy’s forces and the operational war-fighting system arrayed against us.”
A three-stage strategy for defense
Grynkewich described a three-phase approach — blocking, blunting and breaking — to defeat an adversary. According to Politico, the plan begins by utilizing ground forces reinforced by air, naval, cyber and space assets to stop initial assaults and deny territorial gains. Alliance forces would then deploy advanced sensors and autonomous systems to halt enemy advances before turning to precision weapons and unmanned platforms to destroy supporting military infrastructure.
The general emphasized that counterattacks would extend well beyond front-line troops. He warned that allied forces would target the logistical networks, control systems and reserves sustaining an invasion, Fox News reported.
“We will, in short, ensure any attack, against any ally, proves utterly futile,” Grynkewich said, while maintaining that he does not view an armed conflict as imminent or unavoidable.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas welcomed the strategy, telling Politico that the plan “will send a strong message to our adversaries that we are going to defend ourselves.”
Rising hybrid threats across Europe
The address followed growing alarm across Eastern Europe regarding hostile actions attributed to Moscow. Poland, Romania and Estonia have reported airspace breaches by Russian drones and jets, while European capitals have accused Russia of executing sabotage plots, arson and cyber operations. Moscow has consistently denied carrying out hybrid warfare.
Tensions expanded further after a Sept. 30 diplomatic note obtained by Reuters revealed that Russia warned it could employ nuclear weapons if NATO tried to isolate Kaliningrad, Russia’s Baltic Sea exclave situated between Poland and Lithuania. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte dismissed the rhetoric, reaffirming the defensive mandate of the alliance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently insisted that Russia maintains no ambitions to assault European nations and desires peaceful coexistence. European officials, however, have expressed deep skepticism, noting Moscow made comparable denials before launching its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported.
Reassurance amid diplomatic shifts
Grynkewich said he chose to address defense planning openly to reassure the alliance’s one billion citizens amid anxiety stoked by recent sabotage incidents. He also sought to quell doubts regarding the steadfastness of U.S. commitments under President Donald Trump.
News accounts differed on the specific event Grynkewich referenced when describing U.S. relations: Al Jazeera reported he cited Trump’s reception at a NATO summit in Ankara in July, while Fox News reported the general recalled Trump’s positive comments at the 2025 summit in The Hague. Recalling the diplomatic gathering, Grynkewich said, “I was in the room and I felt the love.”
Whether European allies possess the coordinated stockpiles, industrial capacity and military assets needed to execute the comprehensive strategy in a prolonged confrontation remains a central question as NATO conducts readiness exercises across the continent.
