Russia's hybrid attacks threaten NATO security, leaders warn

Russian hybrid attacks on NATO territory pose a threat to the security of the Alliance, the presidents of Poland, Latvia, and Romania said in a joint communiqué. "We will act individually and collectively to respond to these actions," they stated.

"We are seriously concerned about recent malicious hybrid attacks by Russia on allied territory, which pose a threat to NATO's security," declared Polish President Andrzej Duda, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, co-chairs of the Bucharest Nine (B9) meeting in Riga.

The document, published on the Romanian president's website, also stated that "these incidents are part of increasing activity that Russia is trying to carry out in the Euro-Atlantic area, including sabotage, acts of violence, cyber and electronic operations, border provocations, disinformation campaigns, and other hybrid operations."

"We will act individually and collectively to respond to these actions, strengthen our resilience, and continue actions in close coordination - to ensure the readiness of the Alliance and allies to deter and defend against hybrid operations and attacks," the statement said.

The three leaders also emphasized that Russia remained the greatest and most direct threat to the Alliance and declared their intention to continue supporting Ukraine, which the Kremlin attacked.

On Tuesday, in the capital of Latvia, the leaders of the countries located on NATO's eastern flank gathered: Poland, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary. At the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and new allies Sweden and Finland were also present.