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NATO Chief Warns Russia Could Attack Alliance in 5 Years

Is Russia preparing for war with NATO, or is the alliance fearmongering to justify increased defense spending?
NATO Chief Warns Russia Could Attack Alliance in 5 Years
Above: Mark Rutte, NATO's secretary general at the Munich Security Conference in Berlin on Dec. 11, 2025. Image credit: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Anti-Russia narrative

It's possible that Russia could attack NATO within five years, and Atlantic Alliance members are already in harm's way. Moscow has become increasingly brazen with hybrid warfare, including cyber attacks, disinformation and drone incursions into allied airspace. Defense spending and production must rise rapidly now because time is not on NATO's side.

Pro-Russia narrative

Russia has no plans to attack NATO and prioritizes peace and cooperation. NATO officials are running an orchestrated fear campaign to manipulate their populations, justify their own failures and distract from economic disasters at home. Any attack on Russia will be met with overwhelming force using every capability available.

Metaculus Prediction



The Controversies



Go Deeper


Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO



© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0

© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0