The article argues that NATO and its allies should not base their defense strategy on the assumption that Russian President Vladimir Putin 'wouldn't dare' attack NATO. It highlights increasing Russian hybrid warfare activities including sabotage, cyberattacks, drone incursions, and threats to critical infrastructure as indicators of an evolving and expanding campaign against the alliance. The piece emphasizes that Ukraine's conflict has been a proving ground for modern military tactics like drone warfare and electronic warfare, which reveal vulnerabilities in NATO forces. It stresses the need for NATO to learn from Ukraine’s battlefield experience and urgently improve readiness and industrial production capacity for sustained conflict. The article also warns against underestimating Putin’s willingness to escalate, noting his history of risk-taking and testing opponents. Ultimately, it advocates for credible deterrence based on preparation and the willingness to respond decisively to Russian provocations, rather than relying on assumptions about Russian restraint.

The article argues that NATO and its allies should not base their defense strategy on the assumption that Russian President Vladimir Putin 'wouldn't dare' attack NATO. It highlights increasing Russian hybrid warfare activities including sabotage, cyberattacks, drone incursions, and threats to critical infrastructure as indicators of an evolving and expanding campaign against the alliance. The piece emphasizes that Ukraine's conflict has been a proving ground for modern military tactics like drone warfare and electronic warfare, which reveal vulnerabilities in NATO forces. It stresses the need for NATO to learn from Ukraine’s battlefield experience and urgently improve readiness and industrial production capacity for sustained conflict. The article also warns against underestimating Putin’s willingness to escalate, noting his history of risk-taking and testing opponents. Ultimately, it advocates for credible deterrence based on preparation and the willingness to respond decisively to Russian provocations, rather than relying on assumptions about Russian restraint.