U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered U.S. Cyber Command to halt all planning against Russia, including offensive cyber operations. This directive, relayed to General Timothy Haugh, head of Cyber Command, does not affect the National Security Agency’s intelligence-gathering activities targeting Russia. The decision aligns with the White House’s efforts to normalize relations with Moscow. The directive is expected to be lifted “in the near future.” But are we talking about weeks, months, or years?
Expert Analysis:
The current economic landscape is clear: chaotic.
Shutting down Cyber Command’s operations against Russia under the banner of diplomacy is a risky gamble. In practice, the U.S. is offering a digital truce to an adversary that has never ceased its cyberespionage and ransomware activities. But why? This decision sends a clear message to allied intelligence services: U.S. cyber defense is guided more by political considerations than strategic logic. Especially since the U.S. has no guarantee of any reciprocity from Russia.
If Moscow were to halt all offensive cyber activities against the White House, where would its cyber forces turn next? It’s easy to imagine that Russia’s full cyber power would shift its attacks toward Europe, specifically NATO. A scenario we find both concerning and highly plausible.
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