Germany's intelligence chief says Russian attack on NATO is possible in coming years
Photo: Bruno Kahl, President of the German Federal Intelligence Agency (Getty Images)
Russia could launch an attack on NATO territory in the coming years. However, it would not be a large-scale invasion of European countries, but rather a limited operation, stated the President of Germany's Federal Intelligence Agency (BND), Bruno Kahl, according to Zeit.
According to him, Russia is preparing for war with the West, and military confrontation "becomes one possible option for the Kremlin".
Kahl suggests that Russian military forces could be capable of launching an attack on the West, in terms of personnel and resources, by the end of the decade.
However, he believes that this would not be a large-scale invasion of European NATO countries, but rather a limited operation - such as an invasion of the Norwegian Arctic island of Svalbard to "mop up the territory" or of the Baltic states under the pretext of protecting Russian minorities.
The head of German intelligence stated that these operations would aim to undermine NATO's collective security commitments under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and ultimately dismantle NATO.
According to German intelligence assessments, there are doubts within the Russian leadership about whether the obligation to provide assistance under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty in emergencies will remain valid.
Kahl believes that if these views gain traction within the Russian leadership, the risk of military conflict in the coming years will also increase.
He added that Russia will try to divide NATO even before a possible war begins, for instance, by attempting to tempt individual member countries over to its side. According to Kahl, Russian leader Vladimir Putin will test the West's red lines and escalate further.
Russia could attack NATO
Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly stated that the Russian regime will not stop in Ukraine if it wins the war.
According to Estonian intelligence, Russia is already preparing for a new war, which could happen within the next 10 years. A direct conflict with NATO is also not ruled out.
Several Western countries have begun to express concerns that Russia may invade NATO territory in the near future.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said that Russia could attack NATO by 2029.
Furthermore, NATO has already developed a defense plan in case of a potential Russian attack.
