NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that members of the defense alliance will take tougher measures against Russian spies in response to Moscow’s campaign of hostile activities, which include acts of sabotage and cyber attacks.
“We have seen several examples of sabotage, attempted arson, cyber attacks and disinformation,” Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers, which is takingplace on Thursday and Friday in Brussels. “I expect NATO ministers to address Russia’s campaign of hostile activities against NATO allies,” he said.
“We will also work on the kinds of NATO responses, which I expect will include increased awareness, sharing of information, intelligence, increased protection of critical infrastructure, including underwater infrastructure and cyber security, as well as tighter restrictions on Russian intelligence personnel across the alliance,” added Stoltenberg.
The activities of Russian agents are also causing concern and action in the European Union (EU). In a letter to the bloc’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, seen by Politico, eight foreign ministers said Russian diplomats should be barred from free movement within EU countries, amid growing allegations of Kremlin spying operations within the bloc.
“We believe that the EU should strictly… limit the movement of members of Russian diplomatic missions and members of their families only to the territory of the state in which they are accredited,” the letter states. “This measure will significantly narrow the operating space for Russian agents.”
