Support The Moscow Times!

NATO Risks Nuclear War with Russia, Retired General Warns

NATO must bolster its military presence in the Baltic states or risk nuclear war, a former general has warned.

Sir Richard Shirreff was NATO's former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander in Europe between 2011 and 2014.

In an interview on BBC Radio 4, Shirreff said that in periods of tensions, an attack on the Baltic states was entirely plausible.

“We need to judge President Putin by his deeds not his words,” Shirreff said. “He has invaded Georgia, he has invaded Crimea, he has invaded Ukraine. He has used force and got away with it.”

“The chilling fact is that because Russia hardwires nuclear thinking and capability to every aspect of their defense capability, [if Russia did attack the Baltic] this would be nuclear war”.

Tensions have risen along Russia's eastern border after NATO activated a controversial US-led missile defense system in Romania on May 12. A second site will be installed in Poland.

Russian authorities have called the missile shield's installation “an act of aggression,” while NATO officials claim their function is to defend against a North Korean and Iranian missile attack.

“NATO needs to raise the bar sufficiently high for any aggressor to say it is not worth the risk," said Shirreff. President Putin could be persuaded into the Baltic States through the perception of a weakened NATO, where he would use similar tactics as in Crimea, he said.

Shirreff has often been outspoken on NATO spending and policy. The Briton particularly has criticized recent defense cuts in the UK, writing that “a country famous for once ‘walking softly and carrying a big stick,' now had a leadership that shouts loudly but, thanks to ongoing defense cuts, carries an increasingly tiny and impotent stick.”

Shirreff made the comments during a promotional tour for his new book, which features nuclear war in the Baltic states.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more