NATO general to speak today on deterrence
Supreme Allied Commander Alexus Grynkewich will outline the alliance’s military strategy in Warsaw.
There is news on this story (Monday, 12 October 2026, 07:30): NATO commander sets out strategy against Russia today
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NATO’s highest-ranking military commander will speak on Monday at the Warsaw Security Forum about how the alliance intends to deter and respond to a possible Russian attack. General Alexus Grynkewich is expected to set out NATO’s so-called ‘theory of victory’.
The speech is scheduled for Monday in Warsaw. According to NATO and US military spokespeople, it will be a public signal of how the alliance intends to retain its military advantage and create the conditions to deter aggression.
The content is not fully known in advance. Grynkewich’s spokesperson said, according to AFP, that the strategy is aligned with existing plans for deterrence and defence. It is therefore probably a strategic framework rather than an operational playbook made public.
The timing is politically sensitive. European countries are concerned about Russian sabotage, cyber-attacks and other actions below the threshold of open war. Western governments refer to this as a hybrid campaign, but there is not always public evidence that Russia is behind individual incidents.
Grynkewich has been Supreme Allied Commander Europe since 2025, the American general who directs NATO’s military operations in Europe. His position gives him an important role in military planning, but political decisions remain with the member states and the North Atlantic Council.
NATO stresses that it is a defensive alliance and does not want to attack Russia. At the same time, the organisation is seeking to reassure countries on its eastern flank. European governments are also investing more in defence, while Washington is reviewing its future military presence in Europe.
For the Netherlands, the speech is relevant because it touches on what European countries should be able to do themselves. The heart of the debate is not only military strength, but also the boundary between credible deterrence and measures that could increase the risk of further escalation.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Grynkewich is speaking in Warsaw on Monday about NATO deterrence.
- The precise content of his speech was not yet public in advance.
- NATO presents itself as a defensive alliance.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that deterrence must be accompanied by diplomacy, crisis communication and arms control, so that military signals do not automatically lead to an escalation spiral.
Values De-escalation, international cooperation and reducing the risks of war.
Consequences More diplomatic safeguards could reduce misunderstandings, but opponents fear that restraint will be interpreted as weakness.
Centre
Arguments Sees credible defence and open diplomacy as two sides of the same policy: NATO must be able to repel attacks without unnecessarily making its strategy public.
Values Institutional stability, proportionality and allied unity.
Consequences A measured middle course could retain support among all member states, but might result in slower military decisions.
Right
Arguments Believes Russia can be deterred only through clear military superiority and a concrete willingness to take countermeasures.
Values National security, resolve and protecting the eastern allies.
Consequences Greater defence capacity could strengthen deterrence, but requires higher spending and could prompt Moscow to take countermeasures.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article clearly distinguishes between announced plans and established facts. No claims were made about the speech itself, which had not yet taken place.
- confirmed Alexus Grynkewich is speaking on Monday at the Warsaw Security Forum in Warsaw. — Announced by AFP and NOS. source
- confirmed Grynkewich is Supreme Allied Commander Europe. — Reported by AFP and TVP World. source
- confirmed The announced ‘theory of victory’ is aligned with NATO plans for deterrence and defence. — Explained by Grynkewich’s spokesperson in AFP. source
- confirmed NATO says it is defensive and does not want to attack Russia. — Mentioned in AFP’s background on the announced speech. source
Editor's note
This is a preview of an announced speech; its final content was not public at 06:56. Background on hybrid threats and US troop plans has therefore been worded cautiously.Sources
The story so far
- Monday, 12 October 2026, 07:01 NATO general to speak today on deterrence (this article)
- Monday, 12 October 2026, 07:30 NATO commander sets out strategy against Russia today
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „navo rusland”
- RTL Nieuws — „navo rusland”
- NOS — „navo rusland”