Spanish Foreign Minister: Neither EU, NATO, nor Spain prepares for war despite Russia’s aggression in Ukraine

Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares said that neither the European Union nor NATO nor Spain is preparing for any war despite the threat from Russia and the war it has unleashed against Ukraine, European Pravda reported. Albares responded to comments from some political parties about the government's alleged rhetoric. They explained that "Spaniards know very well what is happening in Europe: it is a war of aggression by a permanent member of the UN Security Council." According to him, Spaniards "are very well aware" that "neither the European Union, nor NATO, nor, of course, Spain, nor the Spanish government are preparing for any war" because "none of the alliances of which Spain is a member is offensive, they are all defensive alliances." US intelligence reported earlier in March that Russia almost certainly does not want a direct military confrontation with NATO and will limit itself to hybrid warfare. Lithuanian intelligence assessed that Russia could wage war in Ukraine for at least another two years. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier that NATO is ready for a potential war with Russia, though the alliance needs more troops, weapons stockpiles, ammunition and improved command systems. Concerns about a potential decades-long confrontation with Russia have also been expressed by  Belgian Army’s Chief of Staff Adm. Michel Hofman, Norway’s top commander General Eirik Kristoffersen, Estonia’s land forces commander Maj. Gen. Veiko-Vello Palm, and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, emphasized the need for a swift and robust response to ensure security. NATO Admiral Rob Bauer said on 23 March during the 16th Annual Kyiv Security Forum that the Russia-Ukraine war will shape the world's fate. “This war is being fought because President Putin fears something much more powerful than any physical weapon on Earth – democracy,” he said. The recent classified German intelligence report indicated Russia’s potential military intentions towards NATO in the coming years, starting from 2026. The analysis suggests that Russia is preparing for a large-scale conflict with the West, indicated by the reorganization of its army, troop movements, and missile deployments in the western part of the country. Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on 18 March that NATO must urgently increase its defense spending to avoid becoming a target of Russian aggression. He reiterated calls for NATO to raise its spending target to 3% amid concerns about Russia’s potential attack in the coming years. Poland currently allocates 4% of its GDP to defense, surpassing the US. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 20 March that Russian financial, economic, and military indicators suggest that Russia is preparing for a large-scale conventional conflict with NATO, likely on a shorter timeline than initially posited by some Western analysts. Read also:

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• During the week, Russia fired about 190 missiles, 140 Shaheds, and 700 guided bombs against Ukraine