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 Assurances
Western 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.
Ratcliffe flew to Moscow to urge the Kremlin against escalating with US allies -- particularly Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania -- sources briefed about the visit confirmed to RFE/RL on August 26.
'Every Six Months'
Axios quoted Trump as denying Ratcliffe had not issued such a warning to the Russians.
"Ratcliffe sees his Russian counterpart once every six months or once every year. They have a very good relationship. There was no message and there was nothing unusual," Trump said.
But when asked about the matter later by reporters in the Oval Office, Trump appeared to back off, saying: "I don't want to comment on that, but they're not going to attack [NATO]."
The New York Times, citing current and former officials, said Ratcliffe gave counterpart Aleksandr Bortnikov a bleak assessment of the state of the Russia's war against Ukraine and to urge the Kremlin to reach a deal before its military and economic situation becomes worse.
The Wall Street Journal earlier cited US intelligence as stating Russia may test NATO resolve with a limited incursion as early as this fall.
Baltic diplomats who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity confirmed there was additional intelligence during the summer of Russian false-flag operations but no indication about an imminent conventional attack.
They were also keen to point out that such operations might not be limited to the Baltics, a concern reinforced by recent cases of alleged or suspected Russian involvement in assassination attempts, fires, and drone incursions in several NATO countries, including Germany, Poland, and Slovakia.
NATO Members Pressed
Separately, a senior Pentagon official on August 27 pressed NATO allies to outline how they were answering US demands that they take more responsibility for Europe's defense as Washington reviews its force levels on the continent.
The US administration under Trump has ignited fears among allies that the US could cut back its forces in Europe following a six-month review that began in July.
"The spirit that we come in is obviously one...of consultation, of engagement. We want to hear from our allies," US Defense Under Secretary Elbridge Colby said during a visit for talks at NATO's headquarters in Brussels.
Washington has sent out a questionnaire asking European countries to explain their efforts in taking the forefront in protecting the continent.
"We're actually having a kind of down-to-business conversation about how we go forward together in a world in which Europe, which is obviously a very wealthy continent, can and is taking primary responsibility for its own conventional defense," Colby said.
