NATO chief says Russia is a threat, but war is avoidable

NATO’s top commander in Europe said Russia poses a threat, but conflict is not inevitable, LSM reported. General Alexus Grynkewich spoke after meeting Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs on Friday.

Grynkewich said there was no need to raise a major alarm, but countries must be resilient and ready to act. “We need to build this resilience now, before it becomes necessary,” he said, adding that preparedness could help prevent conflict.

He described this approach as “peace through strength” and said that being strong and preparing for conflict could ensure it never happens.

Grynkewich praised government initiatives to strengthen societal resilience, saying Latvia and other countries on NATO’s eastern flank had experience from which allies could learn. He also commended Latvia for spending 5% of gross domestic product on defence to meet capability targets, ahead of schedule, calling it an example for other allies.

Media reports said more than 70 German and Dutch generals and senior officers visited potential operational areas in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania this week. The visit, prepared in great secrecy, brought together nearly all of the two countries’ land forces’ military leadership, LSM reported, demonstrating the seriousness with which European NATO members view their commitments to provide support.