United States NATO

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte listens to U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, left, speak during a forum hosted by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa.

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Senior NATO commander warns Putin is becoming more cavalier and open to risk as Ukraine war drags on

Senior NATO commander warns Putin is becoming more cavalier and open to risk as Ukraine war drags on

NATO's deputy commander in Europe is warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin is becoming increasingly reckless as the war in Ukraine drags on and as he seeks to divide Western allies. Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday at a security conference in Estonia amid warnings from some European leaders that Moscow is planning to test NATO’s collective defense pact with bolder attacks that have already included sabotage and espionage. Leaders from Poland and France have suggested Moscow might test NATO with deliberate drone or missile strikes. However, officials in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are cautious about a serious escalation. Stringer emphasized the need for NATO to avoid overreacting.