11:45 21-08-2025

Russia Accused of Testing NATO’s Defenses and Unity

Swedish general claims Russia is probing NATO’s defenses, testing weak spots and unity. Could Moscow’s tactics expose vulnerabilities in collective security?

Sweden’s top military commander, General Micael Claesson, has warned that Russia may be testing NATO’s defenses in search of weaknesses. Speaking in an interview with the broadcaster SVT, Claesson suggested that Moscow is employing what he described as a «testing tactic». According to him, this could even involve seizing a small piece of territory to gauge how Western countries would respond.

The general argued that such actions might be aimed at probing the credibility of Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty, which enshrines the principle of collective defense. He said Moscow’s broader goal appears to be undermining both European and transatlantic unity.

Claesson also cautioned that NATO’s reliance on consensus could itself be a potential vulnerability. He noted that if the alliance’s decision-making process were disrupted, it could create weak points that might be exploited.

At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly dismissed claims that Moscow is preparing for a confrontation with NATO. In June, he described such statements as «an incredible lie», emphasizing that Russia has no political, economic, or military reasons to pursue war with the alliance.