Story perspectives

NATO to use covert and overt measures against Russia

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 6:12 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Netherlands' Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, announced NATO will use covert and overt measures against Russia’s hybrid attacks.
He said some NATO responses may remain hidden and will not always follow tit-for-tat logic.
He cited Operation Baltic Sentry, launched after the 2025 Finland-Estonia cable cut, as a symmetric action.
He said increasing support for Ukraine is the best response to Russia’s gray-zone tactics.

History

Historical Context

In 2017, NATO launched the Enhanced Forward Presence, deploying four multinational battlegroups to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland after Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The deployment involved roughly 10,000 troops and a $1.5 billion investment, coordinated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and national forces from the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Mark Rutte’s 2025 announcement of covert Operation Baltic Sentry mirrors that 2017 forward presence, both aiming to deter Russian hybrid aggression through visible and hidden measures. The precedent suggests NATO will continue blending overt deployments with clandestine actions, reinforcing Ukraine’s support while signaling resolve to Eastern European allies.

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Story summary

Netherlands' Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, announced NATO will use covert and overt measures against Russia’s hybrid attacks.
He said some NATO responses may remain hidden and will not always follow tit-for-tat logic.
He cited Operation Baltic Sentry, launched after the 2025 Finland-Estonia cable cut, as a symmetric action.
He said increasing support for Ukraine is the best response to Russia’s gray-zone tactics.

1 / 2