CIA director warns Russia against attacking NATO during Moscow visit — CBS
Photo: CIA Director John Ratcliffe (Getty Images)
CIA Director John Ratcliffe's secret visit to Moscow this week served as a warning to Russia not to attack NATO countries, amid US intelligence assessments that the Kremlin may test the alliance's resolve, according to CBS News.
NATO and Iran warnings
According to sources familiar with the situation, the main purpose of Ratcliffe's trip was to warn Russia against attacking NATO member states.
Separately, the CIA Director raised the issue of Iran. He warned of additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened to shipping.
The CIA declined to comment on the reasons for the trip.
How visit became public
News of the secret visit to the Russian capital emerged on Tuesday after a US Air Force plane was spotted at a Moscow airport and a diplomatic motorcade drove through the city. This is Ratcliffe's first known visit to Russia as CIA director.
According to a high-ranking Ukrainian official, Ukraine was informed that an American delegation would be traveling to Moscow and was asked to refrain from military strikes during the visit.
Trump and Kremlin reactions
President Donald Trump confirmed the visit in an interview with radio host Glenn Beck, but stated that the trip was not related to Iran or Russia's desire to test NATO, calling it "semi-routine."
According to Trump, "something may come out of" Ratcliffe's visit—he pointed to the desire to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Ratcliffe had spoken with representatives of Russian intelligence but had not met with Vladimir Putin.
Recent assessments by US intelligence indicate that Putin may be prepared to authorize provocative actions on NATO territory—cyberattacks, hybrid operations, and other actions that do not constitute conventional military operations. The likely goal is not to start a war, but to test NATO's unity and the Trump administration's willingness to defend its allies.
A series of recent Russian actions has raised concerns: drones entering Romanian airspace, the launch of a Russian missile toward Poland last month, and an increase in the number of suspected sabotage operations and cyberattacks in Europe.
Under Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, alliance members are obligated to come to each other's defense in the event of an attack—a provision the US invoked following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. At the same time, Trump has long questioned NATO's reliability and criticized member states for not contributing enough to their own defense.
A US military aircraft landed at a Moscow airport on August 25, and Washington asked Kyiv to refrain from strikes against Russia for several days. The Kremlin later described the purpose of the visit as establishing contacts between security services.
