Russia may test NATO's solidarity in 3-5 years - Danish Defense Minister

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said this, according to Reuters.

He said that according to new intelligence data, Russia is rearming faster than expected. Therefore, it could attack an Alliance country within 3-5 years.

"Russia's capacity to produce military equipment has increased tremendously. It cannot be ruled out that within a three- to five-year period, Russia will test Article 5 and NATO's solidarity. That was not NATO's assessment in 2023. This is new knowledge that is coming to the fore now," said Poulsen.

He also noted that the assessment was changed after other European NATO member states made similar statements in recent weeks.

Mr. Poulsen emphasized that there is no direct threat to Denmark at the moment, but NATO may face hybrid attacks by Russia to destabilize a member state.

"Russia potentially has the will to do so. Now they can also have the ability to have a military capability earlier than we expected. There is reason to be genuinely concerned," the Danish defense minister added.

• On December 16, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that European countries should ensure better defense capabilities, as new military threats could emerge by the end of the decade.
• On January 19, NATO called on Western civilians to prepare for war with Russia.
• On January 24, Chief of the British Armed Forces General Staff Patrick Sanders said that in the event of a war with Russia, citizens should be prepared to serve in the army.
• On February 5, Polish National Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the situation in the world is quite tense, and the country assumes the possibility of a Russian attack on NATO countries, including Poland.