German Minister Says Russian Aggression Against NATO on "New Level"

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated on Saturday that Russia's aggression towards NATO member countries is on a new level, blaming Moscow for a failed explosive drone attack last month on an airport in Leipzig.

Wadephul said Russia is trying to interfere into their societies, into their territory at a level below the threshold that would trigger NATO's Article 5. Denmark's Defence Intelligence Service warned on Thursday that Russia is likely to intensify its hybrid campaign against Western countries and NATO in the coming months, citing a low but growing risk of a limited Russian military attack on one or more NATO countries bordering Russia.

Intelligence chief Thomas Ahrenkiel suggested potential tactics could include isolated drone or missile strikes against infrastructure supporting Ukraine, false-flag operations, or limited troop deployment into a NATO border area. Czech counterintelligence chief Michal Koudelka and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also warned of possible Russian incursions into NATO territory in the coming months. NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer stated that NATO would strike targets on another country's territory if needed to defend its members.

Russia consistently denies any involvement in alleged sabotage operations and drone incursions across European countries. Wadephul maintained that NATO is not there at the point of warfare, while Latvian Member of European Parliament Rihards Kols disagreed, believing leaders are hesitant to call these attacks an act of war. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto have denied an imminent military threat from Russia.