US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has warned that Russia could eventually take aggressive action against a NATO member, describing Moscow as unpredictable despite assessing the immediate threat to the Alliance as low.
Speaking about the possibility of a Russian attack on NATO, Whitaker said Russia is currently heavily committed to its war in Ukraine and has made little progress on the battlefield. As a result, he assessed the near-term threat to NATO as limited.
But he stressed that the possibility of Russian aggression against an Alliance member cannot be dismissed.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its earlier annexation of Crimea, Whitaker said, demonstrate that Moscow can act unpredictably and may be willing to take aggressive action against a NATO country.
The warning comes as the United States urges NATO allies to strengthen their military capabilities, increase defence spending and expand weapons production so the Alliance is prepared for a potential Russian attack.
Whitaker said the United States remains committed to NATO’s principle of collective defence and stressed that the best response to an unpredictable adversary is preparedness and deterrence.
“You can’t predict what Vladimir Putin or any other adversary is going to do. All you can do is be prepared, deter them and make sure it is not in their interest to take such a step,” Whitaker said.
His comments come amid growing concern across Europe over Russian hybrid activity, including alleged sabotage and drone incidents affecting NATO territory.
Whitaker also argued that supporting Ukraine remains essential to European security. Ukraine, he said, needs the capabilities required to defend itself for as long as necessary until the war comes to an end.
If Russia were to attack a NATO member, Whitaker emphasized, it would face a strong and increasingly capable Alliance.
The message from Washington is therefore not that a Russian attack on NATO is imminent — but that NATO must be ready before the threat becomes imminent.
