NATO’s top military commander in Europe has said the alliance is increasing intelligence and information sharing in response to what it describes as growing hybrid threats, including concerns about Russian activities affecting member states.
NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich told Reuters that the alliance was “stepping up information and intelligence sharing in response to hybrid attacks.”
His comments came after Danish intelligence authorities warned about escalating hybrid threats from Russia and the possibility of military incidents involving NATO members along the alliance’s eastern flank.
Grynkewich described the Danish intelligence assessment as “pretty balanced.”
Grynkewich Says Threats Extend Beyond NATO’s Eastern Members
Discussing the changing security environment, Grynkewich said geographical distance from NATO’s eastern frontier no longer insulated member countries from emerging threats.
“We are all eastern flank countries these days,” he told Reuters, pointing to the nature and geographic reach of the challenges confronting the alliance.
Furthermore, Grynkewich said he believed NATO’s command structure provided him with sufficient authority to respond to potential aggression.
“I am confident I have the authority now that I need to take action to deter any aggression against the alliance,” he said.
US to Provide ‘Critical but More Limited Capabilities’
Meanwhile, Grynkewich indicated that Washington would remain involved in European security even as European NATO members assume greater responsibility for continental defence.
He said the United States would continue providing “critical but more limited capabilities” to NATO while European allies expand their own military role.
The remarks highlight NATO’s continuing shift towards greater European responsibility for defence while maintaining US involvement in capabilities considered important to the alliance.
However, Grynkewich did not specify in the supplied remarks which US capabilities could become more limited or provide details about additional measures NATO might adopt in response to the cited hybrid threats.
