Czech President Petr Pavel has called on NATO to adopt stronger and potentially asymmetric responses to Russian provocations, suggesting measures such as cutting Russia off from global financial systems, disabling its internet access, and shooting down aircraft that violate allied airspace. Speaking to the Guardian in Prague, the former NATO Military Committee chair warned that Moscow has learned to keep its actions just below the threshold of Article 5 — the alliance's collective defence clause — and will continue to escalate unless met with firm resistance. Pavel also criticised Europe's failure to define its own security policy, urging allies not to simply wait on Washington for direction as tensions along NATO's eastern flank intensify.