Vladimir Putin is ‘clearly creating the conditions’ for an assault, says German army chief

Summary

Germany warns that Russia is rearming faster than expected, replacing war losses and stockpiling tanks, missiles, and drones.

Putin has redirected Russia’s economy to fuel its military, aided by supplies from Iran and North Korea.

While there’s no clear evidence of plans to attack NATO, Russia is creating the conditions for it.

On the Ukraine front, Russian forces are advancing in south Donetsk, nearing strategic town Pokrovsk, a key supply hub and coal mining center.

Analysts suggest Putin aims to seize land before potential peace talks.

  • Cypher@lemmy.worldEnglish
    201·
    2 days ago

    Article 5

    The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

    Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.”

    https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_110496.htm

    As far as mutual defence treaties go Article 5 is worded very strongly and any nation failing to provide assistance to a member nation would find itself a pariah.

    The chances that an article 5 event involving Russia doesn’t trigger full scale war are slim to none.

    • Carrolade@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      24 hours ago

      such action as it deems necessary

      That’s a key phrase.

      Pariah, possibly, but I don’t think a party like the AfD would particularly care about pariah status. I’ll also remind you that Article 5 has been triggered once, by George W Bush after 9/11. He then wanted to invade Iraq, and did not receive the full support of NATO members.

      It’s just not that simple, unfortunately.

      • JohnSwanFromTheLough@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        22 hours ago

        Yes because Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. You can’t make up an attack on a NATO member and then ask for the article 5 to be invoked.

        Surely you see that?

        • Carrolade@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          22 hours ago

          Of course. But the principle remains that if your allies do not want to participate in your military action, they are not required to.

          It’s the people in charge of that country that make the decision of how they want to respond to your Article Five invocation, based on their own values and priorities. That freedom of choice is fundamental to NATO.