NATO official: Russia will not attack Alliance in short term – lacks resources, fears retaliation
A senior NATO official said at the Ankara summit that Russia remains a long-term threat but will not attack NATO in the short term due to a lack of capabilities caused by the Ukraine campaign and fear of a devastating NATO response.
Speaking on the sidelines of the summit in Ankara, a high-ranking NATO official stated that Russia continues to be a long-term security challenge for the Euro-Atlantic region and has become even more reckless. However, he emphasized that there are currently no signs that Moscow intends to attack the Alliance in the near future.
Two main reasons were cited: first, Russia simply lacks the capabilities because its military resources are tied up in the campaign in Ukraine. Second, it knows that NATO's response to any rash aggression would be devastating, as the Alliance has appropriate capabilities, ready plans, and covers every territory.
The official noted that Russia is deterred precisely by NATO's actions, and the ongoing work to strengthen the Alliance is a key factor influencing these threats.
Earlier, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže expressed that Russia is not ready to attack any NATO country but expects further destabilization attempts. The Dutch Defense Ministry, in a strategic document, suggested that if there is a pause in the war with Ukraine, Russia could launch a limited operation against a NATO country. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski believes Russia will organize a false-flag operation to justify an attack on a NATO member state.
