NATO Europe Commander: We do not know what Putin wants, but we see what he is preparing for
On a trip to Finland, NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Philip Breedlove, said that Russia poses a threat to Europe, but he does not see a likelihood of an imminent conflict in the Baltic Sea region.
“It is important that we keep vigilant and and our defense capabilities would be at a level to be prepared for any developments. In the past year, 14 months, Russia has invaded the Crimea peninsular and Russia has entered eastern Ukraine, the Donbass. With these actions, they have shown their willingness to use force to shift internationally recognized national borders,” he said.
“We do not know what President [Vladimir] Putin wants or how he makes his decisions. But we see what he is preparing for and we can conclude what he may do. Currently they are spending a lot of money on strengthening military readiness, but their economy is suffering. I see a people and a leader who have decided that whatever the situation – we will focus on the army,” Breedlove said.
He said all nations, including Finland and the United States, should improve their readiness and reaction capabilities. He said both Sweden and Finland are good partners for NATO, and called for even closer cooperation.
Editor: J.M. Laats