NATO’s World War 3 timeline is “rather generous” when the real reality of a global conflict is considered, a senior insider has claimed.
As NATO continues to prepare its troops for the prospect of war, Russia is “back on roll” in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
That’s according to Robert Fox, the Evening Standard’s defence editor, who has warned that the timeline offered by NATO on “all-out war” with Russia was way off the mark.
This week the West’s military alliance’s readiness for war was thrown back into the spotlight, with Admiral Rob Bauer, chair of NATO’s Military Committee, telling private citizens they need to be ready for a conflict.
In a piece with the Telegraph, it was reported that NATO felt “all-out war” with Russia could be experienced within 20 years – a timeline that has rocked many observers in the West.
But Mr Fox said the timeline was “rather generous”.
Speaking to GB News, he said: “[Defence Secretary] Grant Shapps on Monday, announcing the biggest contribution of British forces to a major NATO exercise this spring, certainly thought we’d be lucky if we have got five years.
“This is certainly what the Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania – are warning us because they say after Ukraine, where Russia is on a roll again, it’s going to be us and we’re all going to be involved.”
He added: “It’s going to be a big year for NATO and the alliance and I think it is going to be very difficult for Labour, the Conservatives and the Scottish National Party – who are also vulnerable on this – to keep defence and security abroad, but above all at home, out of the election campaign.”
Admiral Bauer’s comments on the prospect of war with Russia came during a briefing with reporters following a meeting with NATO chiefs in Brussels.
He said that huge swathes of civilians would be needed to used were war to break out, and that governments across the alliance needed systems in place to manage such outcomes.
The admiral said: “We have to realise it’s not a given that we are in peace. And that’s why we [NATO forces] are preparing for a conflict with Russia.
“But the discussion is much wider. It is also the industrial base and also the people that have to understand they play a role.”
Within his speech, Admiral Bauer – a Dutch naval officer – also praised Sweden for asking its citizens to prepare for war ahead of the country formally joining NATO.
Stockholm’s move was confirmed earlier this month and saw a huge uptick in volunteers coming out to support the country – as well as a surge in the sales of torches and battery-powered radios.
He added: “It starts there. The realisation that not everything is planable and not everything is going to be hunky dory in the next 20 years.”
Next week around 90,000 troops will begin NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War.
