Secretary General accuses Russia of waging “open war” against NATO

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has accused Russia of engaging in an "open war" against the North Atlantic Alliance.

Speaking to security experts in Brussels, Rutte asserted that Russia’s actions are no longer covert but are direct, sustained attacks on NATO countries, Caliber.Az reports citing German media.

Rutte emphasized that Russia’s aggressive actions have escalated over time. He urged Europe to adopt a new approach, shifting from diplomatic responses to "military thinking" in order to better prepare for potential threats, including the use of drones and other forms of attack in European territories.

The NATO Secretary General’s remarks came amid a broader report by the US delegation to the OSCE, which highlighted that Russia has launched nearly 150 attacks on NATO nations since the onset of the war in Ukraine. These attacks include cyber assaults on critical infrastructure such as railways, hospitals, aviation GPS systems, and water supply networks. The report also cited instances of hacking, sabotage, and threats to military and underwater facilities.

One major concern is Russia’s ongoing attacks on critical infrastructure. In 2024, major hospitals in Romania and pharmacies in the US were disrupted by hacker attacks, while widespread GPS signal failures were reported across Europe. There are also growing suspicions of Russian involvement in sabotaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, which have impacted communication and data transmission.

In addition to cyberattacks, the report documents incidents of physical violence and assassination attempts linked to Russian operations. In Italy, authorities foiled a plot to assassinate the defence minister, while in Germany and the US, plans to target executives of defence industry-related companies were uncovered.

The report also accuses Russia of exploiting the migration crisis to destabilize the borders of EU nations and stresses the significant role of Russian propaganda and attempts to interfere in elections across the West.

By Vafa Guliyeva