The key facts

  • NATO commander says any attack on the alliance will be made 'absolutely futile'
  • Saudi Arabia stopped issuing public warnings before deadly Riyadh airport attacks that killed at least 18
  • Turkish 'saboteurs' detained in Germany

NATO commander warns Russia

As tensions between Europe and Russia continue to escalate, NATO's command has said how it would respond if the alliance were attacked.

NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, US Air Force General Alexus Grinkevich, stressed at a security forum in Warsaw on October 12 that NATO is a defensive alliance. However, he also spoke of a three-pronged approach aimed at making any attack 'absolutely futile': stopping enemy forces, blunting their strike, and breaking them.

The general did not mention Russia by name, but his remarks were largely aimed at Moscow.

"If anyone is foolish enough to attack us, we will fight. In short, we will ensure that any attack against any of our allies turns out to be absolutely futile," Grinkevich said.

According to him, NATO's response will not be limited.

"If the adversary continues the attack or commits its reserves, we will break the system it uses to wage war against us. This includes not only the attacking force itself, but anything that supports, sustains, and commands it," the general said.

The statement came at a time when European allies were worried about the reliability of the US mutual defense commitment within NATO.

In recent years, European governments have accused Moscow of stepping up sabotage, drone incursions into airspace, and cyberattacks. Russia denies any involvement.

Is Saudi Arabia's attack warning system failing?

Days before a series of deadly attacks that killed at least 18 people at Riyadh airport, Saudi Arabia stopped issuing public warnings about impending military attacks. The government has not explained why no warning was given to the public before last week's attacks.

According to Reuters, citing analysts, the absence of such notifications during the attacks on the airport raises questions about Saudi Arabia's vulnerability to attacks and its ability to protect residents and visitors. It also reflects efforts to make everything appear as if all is well.