NATO will not tolerate hybrid attacks against allies, says US envoy

NATO members must not tolerate deliberate hybrid warfare, and the US will support allies facing such incidents, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said Saturday.

Speaking on the sidelines of a business conference in Italy, Whitaker said last month's drone incident at Germany's Leipzig/Halle Airport, which Berlin blamed on Russia, was more concerning than recent incidents involving Russian drones that strayed into NATO airspace while targeting Ukraine.

"Then you have what I would call the more concerning hybrid actions like we saw in Leipzig, like we have seen in Poland," Whitaker said, according to a report released by NTD News.

He urged NATO members to remain vigilant and respond firmly when hostile actions are identified.

"If we can identify who's doing it – which Germany did – we make sure we express strongly that is unacceptable and we will not tolerate it," he said.

Whitaker also warned that critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, could be targeted and said national authorities should monitor such sites. While responses remain primarily a national responsibility, he said Washington would stand by allies confronting such actions.

Claims

Germany has accused Russian intelligence services of planning the Aug. 5 Leipzig Airport incident and announced measures including the closure of Russia's Consulate General in Bonn and the termination of an agreement covering Russian cultural and information centers, including the Russian House in Berlin.

Russia has rejected the allegations as "unsubstantiated, absurd and irrational." The Russian Embassy in Germany said Berlin had provided no evidence and called the measures an "unprecedented escalation" in bilateral ties. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova separately warned Germany would receive a "fitting response."

Russian President Vladimir Putin also rejected Germany's allegations, saying Berlin's accusations over the attempted drone attack were primarily driven by Germany's domestic political situation.