US envoy vows support for NATO allies facing hybrid attacks after drone found at Leipzig airport

The US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, stated on September 5 that Washington will support allies facing hybrid attacks, specifically citing Russian drones found at Leipzig airport as an unacceptable act. He made the remarks at a business conference in Italy, as reported by Reuters. Whitaker called the Leipzig incident more alarming than recent Russian drones that veered off course into European countries. He said that if responsibility is established, as Germany has done, the US will clearly communicate that such actions are intolerable. He noted Europe is seeing more sabotage, arson, and cyberattacks, with Russia suspected of trying to disrupt aid to Ukraine. The drone with explosives was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig airport on August 4. Danish intelligence reported on September 3 that Russia planned sabotage at defense plants, and German authorities have registered over 165 suspected sabotage-related cases since early 2026.