Russia and collective security and defense were the main topics, as NATO defense ministers gathered for the final of their two-day meeting in Brussels. It came as the Netherlands claimed to have disrupted a Russian hacking operation. US Defense Secretary James Mattis says the Pentagon will make its cyber warfare capabilities available to NATO.

On Thursday, Brussels NATO Defence Ministers gathered for the final day of their meeting on collective security and defence. But the morning's focus quickly shifted to the Hague. The Netherlands – aided by the UK – had disrupted a cyber operation conducted by the GRU – the intelligence arm of the Russian military.

ANK BIJLEVELDDUTCH DEFENSE MINISTER "The military intelligence intercepted a cyber-operation and four Russian intelligence officers were deported from the country the same day. Their equipment was abandoned. This operation has made it possible to prevent the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' system from being hacked."

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons based in the Hague had been probing the recent chemical attack on a Russian ex-spy in Salisbury in the UK. But the allegations against Russia – who have denied them as 'pure fantasy' didn't stop there. Evidence found on a seized laptop showed signs of Russian meddling in the investigation into the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH-17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

GAVIN WILLIAMSONUK SECRETARY OF DEFENSE "What we're doing, by acting with our allies, is actually isolating Russia, by exposing the fact that these are the actions of a state that is acting in a reckless and indiscriminate manner, this is not the actions of a great power. This is the actions of a pariah state."

JIM MATTISUS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE "From its support to the Assad regime which used chemical weapons against its own people, to its use of a chemical agent on the sovereign soil of a NATO ally in the Salisbury attack to this latest hacking attempt, Russia displays blatant disregard for human life and international law. And despite denials from the Kremlin, international community clearly sees the reality and the United States stand shoulder to shoulder with our Dutch and British and all NATO allies."

NATO's Secretary General said Russia was blatantly attempting to undermine international law and institutions.

JENS STOLTENBERGNATO SECRETARY GENERAL "Russia must stop this reckless pattern of behaviour. In response, NATO will continue to strengthen its defence and deterrence in the cyber domain. We are making significant progress. Setting up a new Cyber Operations Centre. Bolstering our cyber resilience. And integrating national cyber capabilities into NATO missions and operations."

MARIAM ZAIDIBRUSSELS "With relations between the West and Russia reached a new low, NATO has also unveiled plans to conduct its largest military exercises since the end of the Cold War. 'Trident Juncture 2018' will take place in Norway from late October. Military officials said it would be fictitious but realistic so that NATO can simulate what it would do, should an ally come under attack. Mariam Zaidi, CGTN, Brussels."