A More Assertive Western Strategy Toward Moscow
The article considers whether Western governments have been overly restrained in responding to Russia. It makes the case for using hybrid-warfare tools to rebuild deterrence.
The item is a Foreign Policy commentary dated October 2, 2026, identified as a five-minute read. Its authors are Rebeccah L. Heinrichs, a senior fellow and director of the Keystone Defense Initiative, and Senator Rick Scott.
The supplied material also includes a Getty Images caption describing Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping entering a hall at a May 20, 2026, signing ceremony in Beijing. No further operational details about the proposed hybrid-warfare approach are provided in the excerpt.
If Western governments adopt more assertive hybrid-warfare measures, publics in Western states and Russia may experience heightened attention to security threats, possible disruptions to information environments, and greater scrutiny of civil liberties. Defense industries, media consumers, and diaspora communities could be especially affected. The debate may also shape public trust in institutions as governments weigh deterrence against escalation risks.