WARSAW, Poland, Oct 12 (Reuters) – The NATO Supreme Allied Commander bluntly warned Russia on Monday that his forces would destroy “everything and anything” involved in any potential attack, if Moscow’s government is “so foolish as to” launch an offensive into alliance territory.
As he presented his “theory of victory” at a security conference in Warsaw, the U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich stated that NATO is a defensive alliance, but that it will block, neutralize and repel any attack against any of its members to ensure that the offensive is “utterly futile.”
Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, made these statements at a time of rising tensions between European nations and Russia.
The European governments accuse Moscow of intensifying a campaign of sabotage, drone incursions and cyberattacks against them, and Russia warned last month that it would use nuclear weapons if NATO tries to isolate Kaliningrad.
In a speech at the Warsaw Security Forum, Grynkewich did not name Russia explicitly, but his message was clearly directed at Moscow. NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept describes Russia as the alliance’s most significant security threat.
“If anyone is fool enough to attack us, we will fight,” he said. “We will deter the attack and prevent them from achieving their objectives, whatever they may be. In short, we will ensure that any attack against any ally proves completely futile.”
Grynkewich sent a clear message to Moscow that, if necessary, this would entail a large-scale retaliation, striking far beyond the forces in the area under attack.
“If the adversary chooses to intensify the attack or mobilize its reserves, we will destroy the combat system used against us,” he stated. “This includes not only the attacking force itself, but everything and anything that supports, sustains and controls that force.”
