Kathrine Frich
The old models simply don’t apply in the age of drones, cyberwarfare, and decentralized tech.
The old models simply don’t apply in the age of drones, cyberwarfare, and decentralized tech.
“The West Is Losing the Security Race”
Former Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander Valery Zaluzhny has issued a blunt warning to Western leaders: NATO is not ready for modern warfare.
Speaking at the London Defence Conference at King’s College, Zaluzhny called for radical reforms within the alliance and cautioned that outdated military doctrine, organizational inertia, and slow modernization are leaving the West dangerously exposed.
Article 5 Under Strain in a Changing World
Zaluzhny didn’t mince words about NATO’s foundational principle: collective defense under Article 5.
“It no longer guarantees effective protection,” he said, according to Super Express adding that global threats have evolved faster than NATO’s ability to respond.
The former commander argued that modern military conflict now requires entirely new strategies, and that the old models simply don’t apply in the age of drones, cyberwarfare, and decentralized tech.
Not Just Tanks vs. Drones: A Full Rethink Needed
While many military discussions in the West have focused on drones and advanced technologies, Zaluzhny warned that focusing too narrowly is a mistake.
“Even if NATO abandoned tanks today and pivoted fully to modern technologies, it would take five years to catch up with Ukraine. By then, the technology will have advanced again, and so will the enemy.”
Ukraine: The Only Army With Real Modern Combat Experience
According to Zaluzhny, Ukraine is now the largest and most combat-experienced army in Europe, and its battlefield insights must shape future Western defense policy.
“No single Western country is currently capable of securing itself against modern threats on its own.”
His message is clear: Ukraine isn’t just a frontline nation. it’s now a critical hub of military innovation and tactical relevance.
NATO’s Tactical and Structural Obsolescence
Zaluzhny called for sweeping reform across:
- Tactics
- Organizational structures
- Doctrinal training
- Defense-industrial policy
These changes, he said, require “not only new resources, but also time”, a resource the West may not have if it wants to deter adversaries like Russia or China.
A Call for a New Security Architecture in Europe
Zaluzhny likened the needed transformation to “the scale of the nuclear age or the space race.”
He believes Europe needs a new security framework that reflects modern threats and frontline realities.
So far, NATO has not formally responded to his comments.
UK Begins to Pivot, Others Lag Behind
In response to ongoing global threats, Britain has pledged to raise defense spending to 3% of GDP, if economic conditions allow.
However, broader NATO movement remains sluggish.
Meanwhile, other alliances and security frameworks in Europe remain bound by older models, despite what Ukraine’s war has revealed about modern military needs.