
The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, has warned Russia that any attack on an alliance member country would be met with a broad military response.
Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday, Grynkewich said that NATO is a defensive alliance, but would be ready to stop and repel any attack on the territory of one of its member countries, so that such aggression would be "completely futile."
"If someone were reckless enough to attack us, we would fight back. We would stop the attack and deny them the opportunity to achieve their objectives, whatever they may be. In short, we would ensure that any attack on any ally would be completely futile," Grynkewich said.
The American general also sent a clear message that NATO's response, if necessary, would not be limited to forces located in the area where the attack would take place, according to Reuters,
"If the adversary chooses to continue the attack or commit its reserves, we will break the combat system engaged against us," he declared.
"This includes not only the attacking force itself, but everything that supports, supplies, sustains and controls that force," Grynkewich emphasized.
Although he did not directly mention Russia in his speech, the NATO commander's message was clearly aimed at Moscow. The warning comes at a time of rising tensions between Russia and European countries, which have accused Moscow of intensifying sabotage activities, drone incursions and cyberattacks.
Russia, on the other hand, warned last month that it would use nuclear weapons if NATO tried to isolate the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. NATO's 2022 Strategic Concept identifies Russia as the most significant threat to the alliance's security.