NATO deputy commander warns Putin is increasingly willing to take risks — Korea Herald

NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe John Stringer said at a security conference in Tallinn, Estonia, that Vladimir Putin, president of the Russian Federation — an aggressor state — is becoming increasingly reckless, dangerous and willing to take risks amid the prolonged war against Ukraine. Korea Herald reports, citing the Associated Press.

Stringer called on Alliance members to take the tense situation into account and respond cautiously to Moscow's actions. According to him, Putin may seek to provoke NATO into an excessive response while trying to sow divisions among allies.

Concerns over attacks and sabotage

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk previously said that Russia could carry out deliberate drone or missile strikes on NATO countries while presenting them as accidental. French President Emmanuel Macron agreed with this assessment of the threat and instructed the government to prepare a plan to protect critical infrastructure from possible drone attacks and cyberattacks.

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At the same time, a British defence official speaking on condition of anonymity said that the United Kingdom does not believe Putin seeks a direct confrontation with NATO. Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs also said that Russian forces are focused on the war against Ukraine and that no military buildup is being observed near Latvia's borders.

Russia's activity in Europe

European countries have already faced incursions by Russian drones and several missiles into the airspace of NATO countries, as well as covert subversive activity. An interactive AP map tracking such incidents indicates that their number has increased from 59 in March 2025 to more than 210. These include vandalism, propaganda, influence operations, arson, sabotage and cyberattacks.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that Moscow may test NATO's principle of collective defence through covert attacks that are difficult to prove. At the same time, he called it unlikely that Russia would launch a conventional military attack on Europe, as its forces are engaged in the war against Ukraine and NATO's response would be a deterrent.