**NATO Warns of Potential Confrontation with Russia**
A top NATO official says the West has time to prepare for potential military confrontations with Russia. According to Reuters, Admiral Rob Bauer says that while the Russian army has grown in size since pre-war levels, its quality has declined.
**Russia’s Threats Continue**
In November 2024, Russian leader Vladimir Putin escalated threats against Western nations that support Ukraine’s long-range strikes into Russia. After a Ukrainian strike on an intermediate-range ballistic missile, Putin warned of potential retaliation.
**Preparing for War**
Admiral Bauer says the West needs to ramp up investments in the defense industry and prepare industries for a wartime scenario. He warns that countries like Russia and China may use their economic power to blackmail Western nations.
**China’s Influence**
Bauer notes that China extracts 60% of the world’s rare earth materials and processes even more – 90%. Many critical medicines consumed by the West also rely on Chinese chemical ingredients. He stresses that business leaders need to realize the strategic consequences of their commercial decisions for national security.
**NATO’s New Strategy**
The NATO official admits that the alliance is discussing preemptive precision strikes on Russian territory in case of a conflict. This shift from a purely defensive mindset reflects a new understanding of NATO’s role as a protector of its member nations.
Read More @ euromaidanpress.com