Russia’s Sabotage Campaign Could Force NATO to Invoke Article 5, Intelligence Chief Warns

Russia's recent acts of sabotage against Western infrastructure may eventually prompt NATO to consider invoking its Article 5 mutual defense clause, according to Bruno Kahl, head of Germany's foreign intelligence service. Speaking at a think tank event in Berlin, Kahl warned that Moscow's increased use of hybrid warfare tactics, such as cyberattacks and sabotage, raises the possibility that NATO may be compelled to take collective defensive action under the alliance's Article 5. This clause obliges member countries to defend each other if one is attacked, marking a significant escalation if invoked.

Kahl highlighted that Russia's military potential is growing, with Moscow's forces becoming more capable of direct confrontation with NATO in the near future. He also noted that the use of hybrid warfare tools could continue to increase the likelihood of a military clash between Russia and NATO. He explained that such actions may not necessarily involve large-scale territorial grabs but could aim to undermine Western unity by testing NATO's response to smaller provocations, such as localized attacks or border adjustments, particularly in regions like the Baltics or the Arctic.

One specific incident fueling these concerns was the severing of key undersea cables in the Baltic Sea in November. Investigators traced the attack to a Chinese-flagged vessel, Yi Peng 3, which is believed to have deliberately dragged its anchor to cut cables linking Lithuania to Sweden and Germany. The attack is suspected to be part of Russia's broader hybrid warfare strategy, which includes both physical and cyber sabotage. European officials have expressed alarm, fearing that the West is ill-prepared to counter such unconventional tactics.

While there are no clear...