Finland's President doesn't believe Russia will ever attack NATO
Photo: Alexander Stubb (Getty Images)
Finnish President Alexander Stubb states that he does not believe Russia will ever want to attack NATO. He attributes this to intelligence data and deterrents, according to Bild.
During the conversation, Stubb was asked about a warning from the German Ministry of Defense that Vladimir Putin might be capable of attacking NATO territory by 2029, to which he replied:
"I do not believe that Russia will ever want to attack the world's most powerful military alliance—NATO," the President says.
He emphasizes that he is not calling for complacency; on the contrary, we must prepare for the worst to prevent it. But in explaining his skepticism regarding a Russian attack, Stubb cites two factors: intelligence data and nuclear weapons.
"First, I have intelligence information. Second, we have a deterrence system, and this system is stronger than that of any other military power in the world. It is based on conventional armed forces, missiles, and nuclear weapons. No country in the world has any reason to test the resolve of this Alliance," says the Finnish President.
He also adds that the goal of Russia's information war is to sow fear in Europe. Specifically, to make Europeans ask whether Russia will attack NATO and Europe, and whether it will use nuclear weapons.
According to him, Russia can escalate the war in only one way: through mobilization. Stubb believes that Russia may indeed carry out a mobilization this fall, but this process threatens the internal situation in Russia.
"At present, Russia's options for escalation are very limited. The only thing Russia can still use to escalate the conflict is mobilization. And I believe that mobilization will have domestic political consequences for Russia," Stubb concludes.
Doubts about Russian attack
A few days ago, Bloomberg, citing its sources, reported that officials in Europe were convinced that there was no evidence that Russia was preparing for a conventional military attack on NATO or Baltic countries.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe arrived in Moscow this week on an unscheduled visit. One theory circulating in the media was that he allegedly warned Russia not to attack NATO.
However, President Donald Trump later also made it clear that he does not believe Russia would attack the Alliance.
