The threat posed by the Russian Federation to the Baltic states and Poland is “absolutely realistic,” as Russia represents a direct danger to the entire North Atlantic Alliance, NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone said, according to ERR.
However, NATO is fully prepared for such a scenario and will ensure that any potential attack would cost Moscow disproportionately more than any possible gains. According to the Italian admiral, the alliance must be capable of inflicting damage on an aggressor that far exceeds any hypothetical benefits.
“Russia would lose a great deal — much more than it would gain by attacking only Poland or the Baltic states. And we are ready,” NATO’s top military official emphasized.
Commenting on concerns that a reduction in the U.S. military presence in Europe could create a “window of opportunity” for the Kremlin during a transitional period, Cavo Dragone said this would not happen if European allies act in a coordinated and effective manner. The transition will be gradual, and European countries will fill the emerging gaps.
At the same time, the admiral identified several key and critical gaps in Europe’s defense capabilities that had previously been covered by the United States and now need urgent reinforcement: long-range precision strike capabilities, electronic warfare (EW), intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
Cavo Dragone also identified another “bottleneck” in European defense — a shortage of personnel. To address this issue, military service in European countries must become a more attractive and promising career path for younger generations.
The NATO Military Committee chairman also addressed the issue of depleted weapons stockpiles in Europe, previously highlighted by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. Since the European defense industry faces numerous bureaucratic and production constraints, one key solution is direct investment in Ukraine’s defense industry. Ukrainian automotive and defense sectors face significantly fewer restrictions, and NATO plans to actively develop local production in Ukraine and establish joint ventures.
“Ukrainians have now also become security guarantors. This may seem unexpected, but it is true. We will support them in every possible way and for as long as necessary,” Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone concluded.
