However, the American media Newsweek reports that we should not rejoice. According to his journalists, Vladimir Putin discreetly prepares the field for a conflict with NATO. Already last January, the Dutch admiral Rob Bauer, head of the military committee within NATO, warned that the alliance should “Expect the unexpected” And prepare for a Russian attack.
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A new military headquarters near the Finnish border
For Newsweek, a first sign of this danger that Russia represents is to be seen on the side of Russian military movements. The media quotes the Wall Street Journal which reported on Monday that the Russians strengthened their presence at the borders with Finland and Norway.
Vladimir Putin also plans to base a new military headquarters in Petrozavodsk, a city located barely 160 kilometers from the Finnish border. According to Russian military experts, this military movement is one of the president’s wider preparations for a possible conflict with NATO. “”When the troops come back [d’Ukraine]they will observe on the other side of the border a country which they consider as an adversary “indicates one of these experts.
Intelligence services on the alert
A second evocative sign for Newsweek of this Russian threat is the repeated warnings of the intelligence services of different European countries. Last March, the Germans announced that Putin was preparing for a conflict with NATO. According to their report, Russia could be fully ready for a “conventional war on a large scale “ by 2030.
On the side of Lithuanian intelligence services, it is indicated that if Moscow may not yet be ready for a large-scale attack against the Alliance, it could be attempted to “Test NATO”. How ? By conducting a limited military operation against one or more Member States. The objective for Putin would then be to see if, in accordance with article 5 of the NATO Charter, all countries are unable to respond to the invader.
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Upward military spending
We also learn that the Russians intensify their military recruitment and accelerate their production of weapons. To continue the war in Ukraine at first, but to potentially attack NATO afterwards.
As Newsweek explains, Russia’s military spending is increasing at a record rate, and should reach around 120 billion euros in 2025, or more than 6 % of the country’s GDP. The American media also cites a February report which indicates that Russian military expenditure exceeded those of Europe.
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Repeated sabotage acts
It’s not new, but Newsweek talks about a fourth sign of the Russian threat, which manifests itself through different acts of sabotage and espionage in the seas and oceans. In recent months, these kinds of events have been largely reported by the European press. Some suspect Vladimir Putin to target underwater cables and critical infrastructure, in order to cut communications and also disturb the world economy.
According to the American media, Andreï Keline, Russian ambassador to the United Kingdom, has had a rather suspicious behavior lately. He indeed refused to deny the information according to which Russia spied on the British nuclear submarines in the seas surrounding the island.
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Finally, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Russia carry out an increasingly violent sabotage and destabilization campaign against European and American targets in Europe. The report notes that the number of Russian attacks in Europe almost tripled between 2023 and 2024, after having already quadrupled between 2022 and 2023.
“The Russian government, including President Vladimir Putin, are not trustworthy”even concludes the report. So that’s enough to put a little more alert NATO, which must prepare for all scenarios.
