NATO Commander Issues Stark Warning: 'Anything and Everything' Against Attackers

US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's top military commander, declared that the alliance's forces would obliterate “anything and everything” if any entity dared to attack, amid escalating European anxieties over potential Russian aggression. Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland on Monday, Grynkewich stated, “We will block the initial attack. If the attack persists, we will blunt it and prevent any enemy advance. And if required, we will break the enemy’s forces and the operational war-fighting system arrayed against us.” He emphasized NATO's defensive nature and expressed no belief in an imminent or inevitable conflict, asserting that preparedness for war and open communication are key to maintaining peace.

European governments have voiced accusations against Moscow for an increase in sabotage, drone incursions, and cyberattacks. Russia, in turn, has previously warned of potential nuclear weapon use if NATO were to impede access to its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, a significant military outpost. The NATO 10-year strategy, established in 2022, identifies Russia as the primary security threat to the alliance. Grynkewich further elaborated, “We will, in short, ensure any attack, against any ally, proves utterly futile.”

General Grynkewich, who holds the position of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, clarified that the alliance's response would extend beyond the immediate attacking forces. “Should the adversary choose to press the attack or commit his reserves, we will break the warfighting system engaged against us,” he explained. “This includes not just the attacking force itself, but anything and everything that supports, sustains and controls that force.” These remarks come despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent statements indicating no plans to attack European countries and a desire for peaceful coexistence, declarations that have not allayed European leaders' concerns, particularly in light of similar statements preceding Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has consistently denied any involvement in sabotage and other hybrid operations.

Grynkewich stated his intention to address NATO's plans publicly due to recent acts of sabotage and arson that have unsettled citizens across the alliance. “What I want to do is assure the one billion citizens of our alliance that we’ve got this. We know what we need to do. We know how we would do it,” he assured. He also sought to alleviate concerns regarding Washington's commitment to NATO, referencing the positive reception of President Donald Trump at a NATO summit in Ankara in July, stating, “I was in the room and I felt the love.”