Standfirst: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance has response options ready for sabotage, cyberattacks and drone incidents linked to Russian hybrid activity. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth separately called on European allies to assume greater responsibility for the conventional defence of the continent.
NATO is prepared to respond to Russian hybrid attacks against member states, Secretary General Mark Rutte said on 24 September 2026, as new warnings highlighted concerns about sabotage, cyber operations and possible drone activity in Europe.
Rutte said NATO had plans available to deal with hybrid incidents, while arguing that the increased pressure on European countries showed Moscow was not achieving its objectives in Ukraine. His comments came alongside a sharper call from the United States for European allies to strengthen their own military capabilities.
NATO says response options are in place
Speaking at an event in New York, Rutte said Russia was increasing its activity in the cyber and wider hybrid domain. He said the alliance was prepared to act if member states faced sabotage, drone incidents or other hostile activity below the threshold of conventional war.
Hybrid threats can include a combination of cyberattacks, disinformation, sabotage, covert activity and the use of unmanned systems. Such incidents can be difficult to attribute and may be designed to test an alliance without triggering an openly declared military confrontation.
Rutte said NATO had “response options” available and would use the measures it considered necessary. He also urged member states to provide more support for Ukraine, presenting continued assistance as one way of signalling resolve to Russia.
Warnings from Denmark and other European countries
The NATO secretary general’s comments followed a warning from Danish intelligence about a growing risk of Russian military action against NATO countries, including further hybrid attacks.
Spanish media also reported that US intelligence had alerted European governments to a possible Russian drone operation involving Spain, France or Italy. The information described in the reports concerns a potential threat; it does not establish that an operation has taken place or that responsibility has been proven.
European governments continue to assess threats through national security services and NATO coordination. Public information about specific intelligence assessments may remain limited because of the sensitivity of the material.
What Rutte’s comments mean for NATO members
Rutte said Russian President Vladimir Putin was in a difficult position and that Russia was not winning the war in Ukraine. He told citizens of NATO’s 32 member states to remain calm, while stressing that allied governments needed to maintain support for Ukraine and strengthen deterrence.
His remarks underline the distinction between a hybrid incident and an armed attack covered by NATO’s collective-defence arrangements. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all. However, Article 5 does not automatically require every ally to respond with military force in an identical way.
Any NATO response would depend on the nature of the incident, the evidence available, consultations among allies and the measures agreed by member states. The alliance may use diplomatic, cyber, intelligence, economic or military tools, depending on the circumstances.
US urges Europe to take greater responsibility for defence
At a meeting of NATO defence ministers, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called for a stronger European role in defending the continent. He described his proposal as “NATO 3.0”, focused on rebuilding military capability and creating a more forceful conventional deterrent in Europe.
Hegseth said European allies should take the lead in the conventional defence of their own region. His position reflects continuing debate inside NATO about the distribution of responsibilities between the United States, European allies and Canada.
The discussion follows reports that Washington told allies it would no longer provide certain warships and aircraft in the event of an attack on a NATO member. European governments and Canada are assessing how to address any resulting capability gaps.
The United States remains NATO’s largest military power. The source report also states that Washington does not plan to withdraw its nuclear weapons stationed in Europe, which remain an important part of the alliance’s deterrence posture.
Key issues for European defence
- Conventional capabilities: European countries are being pressed to provide more forces, equipment and logistical support for the defence of the continent.
- Hybrid threats: Cyberattacks, sabotage and drone activity can create security risks without a declared conventional conflict.
- Support for Ukraine: NATO leaders continue to link assistance to Ukraine with broader European deterrence.
- Collective defence: Article 5 remains central, but the form of any response is decided by allies according to the circumstances.
Why this matters for Europe
The latest NATO statements point to two connected developments in European security policy. First, governments are preparing for a wider range of hostile activity, including operations that may be difficult to attribute. Second, European allies are facing pressure to expand their own defence capacity rather than relying as heavily on US conventional assets.
For EU member states that are also NATO members, the issue affects national defence planning, intelligence cooperation, cyber resilience and protection of critical infrastructure. It also reinforces the importance of coordination between the European Union and NATO, although the two organisations have different mandates and decision-making structures.
Ireland is not a member of NATO, so NATO’s collective-defence commitments do not apply to the country in the same way as they do to alliance members. However, hybrid threats such as cyber operations, infrastructure disruption and disinformation can have cross-border consequences and remain relevant to Ireland’s wider European security discussions.
What happens next?
NATO allies are expected to continue reviewing their military capabilities, intelligence assessments and plans for responding to hybrid incidents. European governments will also face decisions about defence spending, equipment procurement and the division of responsibilities within the alliance.
No new NATO military operation was announced in the source report. The immediate focus remains deterrence, intelligence-sharing and preparedness, alongside continued political and military support for Ukraine.
Conclusion
The latest NATO message is that the alliance has plans to respond to Russian hybrid threats, but the wider debate is increasingly about who will provide the capabilities needed to defend Europe. Rutte’s warning and Hegseth’s call for “NATO 3.0” place European defence responsibility, support for Ukraine and resilience against cyber and sabotage operations at the centre of the security agenda.
