NYT: Russian attack on NATO looms as Trump threatens to abandon alliance

Russia could rebuild and invade alliance territory within five years, possibly leaving European nations to fend off threats without full American support, according to the NYT.

byMichelle Bondar

29/01/2024

2 minute read

isw russian soldier looted items popasna luhansk oblast ukraine spring 2022

Russian soldier with looted items in Popasna, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine. Spring 2022. Photo: RFE/RL

NYT: Russian attack on NATO looms as Trump threatens to abandon alliance

With Donald Trump threatening to pull back US support, NATO countries grow anxious over forecasts that Russia could rebuild and invade alliance territory within coming years, the New York Times reported.

“We have always kind of suspected that this is the only existential threat that we have,” Maj. Gen. Veiko-Vello Palm, Estonia’s land forces commander, told the NYT. According to Palm, many NATO militaries are not ready to fight Russia.

NATO has worked to revitalize Europe’s military capacity since 2014, when Russia first invaded Ukraine. But the progress made could still leave allies unprepared. “So it’s not very comforting,” General Palm said.

As NATO stages its biggest exercises since the Cold War, anxiety simmers that the drills ready forces for imminent attacks. “We have to realize it’s not a given we are in peace,” said NATO Military Committee chairman Rob Bauer.

Analysts say Russia could rearm within years of the Russo-Ukrainian war conclusion. “Just because it got all chewed up in Ukraine doesn’t mean they’re off the board for a decade or more,” said Atlantic Council’s Christopher Skaluba.

Norway’s top commander echoed the distress of being “short on time” before unpredictable Russia’s attack. “There is a window now that will perhaps last for one, two, maybe three years, where we will have to invest even more in a secure defense,” General Eirik Kristoffersen warned.

This rapid timeline, combined with wavering US support if Trump returns to power, leaves European allies bracing for earlier aggression. “If anyone thinks this is only about Ukraine, they’re fundamentally mistaken,” President Zelenskyy warned at the World Economic Forum this month. “Possible directions and even a timeline of a new Russian aggression beyond Ukraine become more and more obvious.”

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Will the West continue to support Ukraine?

Know what moves the world.
Stay informed with Kompreno.
Get quality journalism from across Europe.

Special discount

for Euromaidan Press readers

We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!