General Grynkewich’s remarks come as Washington withdraws key assets from Europe
The US general who commands Nato has said Russia is “not looking for a conflict”, despite concern among European allies about the potential security gaps left by Washington’s plans to withdraw key military assets. Asked on Thursday about the possibility of a Russian attack on the Baltic states, General Alexus G. Grynkewich said his role was to ensure Nato’s deterrence remained credible and that Moscow understood it could not succeed militarily against the alliance.
“I’ve watched the intelligence very closely,” the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (Saceur) said on a panel at the ILA Berlin Air Show. “Russia is not looking for a conflict . . . They do understand the term ‘defensive alliance’, and they do understand that we have a number of asymmetric advantages.” His comments come as the US is planning to reduce the military capabilities it assigns to the Nato Force Model, the alliance’s pool of forces and equipment that can be deployed within 10, 30 and 180 days in response to a crisis. The assessment contrasts with increasing concerns in the Baltic States that a reduced US military presence could weaken Nato’s deterrence and alter Moscow’s calculations. Läs artikel