NATO has a plan – will it strike Russia?

According to four NATO officials familiar with the discussions, the goal of the talks is to raise the cost of Moscow’s “hybrid warfare” and to develop clear countermeasures following a series of airspace violations by Russian drones and aircraft, the Financial Times reports.

The talks were initiated by “frontline” countries bordering Russia, with the support of France and the United Kingdom, and have since expanded to a larger group within the 32-member alliance.

“The proposals include arming reconnaissance drones used to gather intelligence on Russian military activities and easing the rules for pilots patrolling the eastern border to eliminate Russian threats. Another option is to conduct NATO military exercises along the Russian border, particularly in remote and unguarded areas,” the publication states.

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Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump said that NATO should open fire on Russian aircraft that violate allied territory.

The U.S. president’s remarks followed a series of Russian provocations, including the first direct confrontation between NATO aircraft and Russian drones since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In addition to a collision in Polish airspace, Russian drones have also turned toward Romanian territory, while MiG fighters have violated Estonian airspace.

Meanwhile, dozens of unidentified drones have caused massive disruptions at airports in Belgium, Denmark, and Germany, and some officials link these incidents to the same hybrid warfare waged by Moscow — including cyberattacks and acts of sabotage, the publication writes.

Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, said last week that he “works every day” with allies to ensure “we have the best options in asymmetric and hybrid warfare.” He emphasized that it is crucial to “make sure we have enough rungs on the escalation ladder.”

Two NATO officials said that “one of the urgent tasks is optimizing the rules of engagement on the eastern flank.” In some countries, fighter jets are required to visually confirm threats before engaging, while others allow them to open fire based on radar data or perceived danger — determined by the direction or speed of the hostile object.

EPA-EFE/Robert Ghement

The talks, which began with a small group of directly affected countries, have now expanded into a broader discussion, two officials said, as other allied capitals recognize the scale of the threat posed by Moscow’s destabilizing campaign.

Some capitals are also advocating a more aggressive NATO stance as a deterrent, one official said. Other allies recommend a more conservative response given the risks of direct conflict with a nuclear power like Russia, the publication reports.

“These issues are being actively considered — how best and most effectively to respond to Russia’s actions,” said one NATO diplomat, cautioning that the talks are still in the early stages.

Last month, NATO held two urgent meetings regarding incidents in Poland and Estonia and launched Operation “Eastern Shield” — a mission to strengthen the air defenses of frontline states.

There are no deadlines or obligations for any agreement on changes in strategy, and any changes must not be publicly announced, all four officials warned.

NATO talks are taking place in the context of EU preparations for measures in response to Russian provocations.

This includes travel restrictions across Europe for Russian diplomats suspected by intelligence services of running agents and conducting subversive operations outside their official duties, as well as the use of EU funds to facilitate the establishment of drone defense systems.