"NATO Not Ready For A Russian Attack" Topic

"A confidential NATO report has questioned the alliance's ability to defend against a Russian attack. Eastern European members of the alliance fear Russian aggression.

NATO would be unable to repel a Russian attack on its Eastern European members, according to an internal alliance document cited by the German magazine Der Spiegel (German language) in its Saturday edition.

The internal document, titled "Progress Report on the Strengthened Deterrence and Defense Capability of the Alliance," …"

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Amicalement
Armand

Was NATO *ever* really ready and able to stop a Russian attack, without going nuclear?

No surprise. European militaries have been run down to the point of madness. This was first evident as they struggled to find troops to deploy in Afghanistan, with Germany, a nation of 80 million pushed to deploy 3000 combat ready troops.
Nations like Germany, Holland, Belgium and Spain can field only a fraction of their cold war strength. The UK and France aren't far behind

Hmmmm…. it all sounds so familiar.
NATO nations do indeed need to re-grow their militaries.

But why are we still not asking what we never asked during the Soviet days: Are the Russians ready, willing and able to invade?

That's ok. Russia isn't ready either. It thinks it is, but…

Russia's not what it used to be, either…

Did anyone else notice that the vehicle which poses as a NATO tank, is in actuality a Russian T-80 series? Definitely not ready.

That's why the bear is not sure what to do… ;)
But I see no reason for Russia to attack NATO. Remember all the hype about Russia-Byelorussia drill? All Baltic states and Poland were pretty sure (at least their politicians) that all of them are going to be invaded overnight…

Barin- Given Russia's history with Poland and the Baltics,
such concern was understandable.

Still, these people have to be out of their minds to claim 250k troops, based on some Ukrainian internet portal, when there was maximum 20K (official figure was 12). Should not be enough to conquer 4 countries I guess…
I liked an article in Polish newspaper later on – "yes, they have not invaded, but only to do it next time."
The main question is still what can we get attacking NATO. I can't really find anything beneficial to country or business oligarchs.

Your last line is the heart of the matter. A war with NATO
is not in Putin's interest.

Eastern European states are either unrealistically paranoid about a menace that doesn't exist (Putin is not Stalin), or just playing this fear-mongering game in public to get more aid money from Uncle Sam's endlessly deep pockets. IMHO.

Given the historical track record I can't really blame the Eastern European nations for looking warily both east and west.

remember, just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

The Baltic states have not received much (if any) "aid" money from the US. They are some of the few NATO countries trying to build up their armed forces as good as they can. Unfortunately they are small and poor countries, but they try. They were invaded by the Soviet Union in 1940 and were then occupied for about 50 ys. They know what the Russians are like and will defend themselves.

Putin has said that all countries that once were a part of the Soviet Union will be incorporated into "greater Russia". That includes Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Putins government has threatened Baltic states with nukes a few years back. Russian special forces have entered of the countries (canīt remember which) a few years back and kidnapped a man working for security service and brought him back to Russia and sentenced him to prison.

So yes, I really think the Baltic countries have a right to be paranoid about Russia…