Germany’s foreign intelligence chief, Bruno Kahl, has warned that Russia could attack the Baltic nations.
“We are quite certain, and we have intelligence showing it, that Ukraine is only a step on the journey westward,” said Kahl in an interview with the Table Media podcast. “That doesn’t mean we expect tank armies to roll westwards, but we see that NATO’s collective defence promise is to be tested.”
With the rising tension and apparent threats, Baltic countries have been pointed out as the likely next targets – namely Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
“They don’t need to dispatch armies of tanks for that. It’s enough to send little green men to Estonia to protect supposedly oppressed Russian minorities”, Kahl said, in reference to the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, that saw soldiers deny their identity while wearing civilian clothes – and dubbed “little green men.”
The speculation matches a statement from NATO chief Mark Rutte during a visit to Chatham House. He said that the Russian military-industrial complex would be producing arms at a quickened pace, in order to be able to attack other countries within five years.
He highlighted how the West needs to “make our alliance stronger, fairer and more lethal”.
“In terms of ammunition, Russia produces in three months what the whole of NATO produces in a year”, he said. “And its defence industrial base is expected to roll out 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armoured vehicles, and 200 Iskander missiles this year alone… Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years”.
A NATO summit is scheduled for June in The Hague, and US President Donald Trump is set to meet up with European countries – and urge them to commit to greater defence spending.
About the expectation, Rutte said: “It is vital that every member of NATO pulls their weight. Because America has carried too much of the burden for too long”.
“America’s Allies have broad shoulders, and Europe and Canada will do more for our shared security. And that will be backed by America’s rock-solid commitment to NATO”.