Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen suggested that Moscow does not currently view an attack on alliance members as likely. His remarks were reported by a major Russian news outlet.
He commented, I don’t think there is an imminent threat of Russia attacking NATO countries, a statement that underscores a cautious reading of Russia’s intentions by Western observers.
Rasmussen noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin understands the essence of Article 5, the alliance’s collective defense clause. The article declares that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all, reinforcing the unity and deterrence behind NATO’s postwar framework.
On January 30, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis met in Stockholm with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, discussing security assurances for Gotland, the Swedish island that lies strategically between Scandinavia and the Baltic states.
During the same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed Western claims that Moscow might launch a new operational phase across Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, and Finland as unfounded. He argued that those statements are not grounded in reality and reflect Western political rhetoric rather than facts on the ground.
Earlier, a former Austrian foreign minister cautioned that some NATO voices calling for stronger military postures and large-scale exercises could be shaping public perception toward a larger confrontation with Russia. The sentiment suggested a need for careful communication to avoid inflaming tensions while maintaining credible defense planning.
Likewise, a Lithuanian leader indicated that Moscow may be pursuing a strategy to mislead Western partners about its true strategic aims, highlighting the ongoing struggle to interpret Moscow’s broader security calculus in the Baltic and Nordic regions.