The key facts

  • NATO General Alexus Grynkewich described the response to an attack on the alliance on 12 October in Warsaw as 'deter, blunt, defeat'
  • The statement came amid European allies' concerns over US commitments
  • Reuters: no public alert was issued before the attacks at Riyadh airport that killed 18 people

NATO commander describes response to attack

NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, spoke at the Warsaw security forum on 12 October. Emphasising that NATO is a defensive alliance, he outlined a three-pronged approach aimed at making any attack 'absolutely pointless': deterring enemy forces, blunting their strike and defeating them. The general did not name Russia, but according to Kun.uz, 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 pointless,' Grynkewich said.

'We will defeat the war-fighting system'

According to the general, NATO's response will not be limited: 'If an adversary continues an attack or commits its reserves, we will defeat the war-fighting system engaged against us. This includes not only the attacking force itself, but anything that supports, sustains and commands it.' Kun.uz noted that the statement came at a time when European allies were concerned about the US commitment to NATO's collective defence obligation. European governments in recent years have accused Moscow of stepping up sabotage, drone incursions into airspace and cyberattacks; Russia denies any involvement.

Questions over Saudi Arabia's alert system

Reuters, citing analysts, reports that several days before a series of deadly attacks at Riyadh airport that killed at least 18 people, Saudi Arabia stopped issuing public alerts about impending military attacks. The government did not explain why the public was not warned before last week's attacks. According to the agency, the absence of such notifications during the attacks raised questions about the country's vulnerability to attacks and its ability to protect residents and visitors; it also reflected efforts to make everything appear as normal.