NATO’s Response to Russian Sabotage: Will Article 5 Be Triggered?
The head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service warns that Russia’s escalating hybrid warfare, including sabotage against Western targets, risks triggering NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause. Russia’s growing military capabilities, including battle-hardened troops and advanced drone warfare, increase the potential for direct military confrontation with NATO by the end of the decade. However, Russian officials reportedly doubt the West’s commitment to Article 5, believing a limited attack could test Western resolve and fracture NATO unity without provoking a full-scale response. This assessment suggests that a Russian attack on NATO members wouldn’t aim for territorial gains but rather to undermine the alliance’s effectiveness.
John Q. Hosedrinker