US President Donald Trump told reporters that he does not believe Moscow will attack a NATO nation amid rising concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin will strike a Baltic country or other member state to test the Western alliance’s resolve.Trump on August 27 told reporters in the Oval Office that he had engaged in "good talks" with Putin and that "he's not going to be attacking a NATO territory." He did not specify when those talks were held."I am not concerned...at all. There is no problem," Trump was quoted earlier as saying by news publication Axios when asked about a possible Russian provocation against a NATO state.
The remarks come as the Kremlin at the same time dismissed as "scare stories" reports in the US media suggesting Moscow could attack NATO and following a surprise visit by the CIA director to Moscow.NATO Article 5 AssurancesWestern European security has long been tied to NATO's mutual defense clause, Article 5, which states that an attack on one member nation constitutes an attack on all.Many Western leaders and officials have expressed concerns over Trump's commitment to the military alliance. Trump has at times put into question a possible US response to an attack on a member state, while at other times reaffirming support for NATO.A letter seen by RFE/RL reveals growing concern about Russian aggression in the Baltic states, speaking of a "deteriorating security environment" amid an "increased frequency of airspace violations and drone incursions."The letter was sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and signed by the three Baltic European commissioners, Kaja Kallas, Andrius Kubilius, and Valdis Dombrovskis, as well as the Polish and Finnish commissioners.Dated July 30, the letter was one of a series of alarm bells sounded about Russian aggression over the course of the summer that culminated in CIA Director John Ratcliffe's surprise visit to Moscow on August 25.
