Russia could attack NATO in 3-5 years, says Danish defence minister 

The Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that Denmark should accelerate its military investments following recent intelligence suggesting that Russia is rearming at a quicker pace than anticipated. There are concerns that Russia could potentially launch an attack on a NATO country within the next three to five years, he said.

In the aftermath of Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has intensified its hostile rhetoric towards neighbouring countries, including NATO members such as the Baltic states, Poland, and Moldova. This escalation has led European defence leaders to highlight the looming threat of a significant conflict.

The changed threat assessment comes after other European NATO countries have made similar warnings in recent weeks.

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“Russia’s capacity to produce military equipment has increased tremendously,” Defence Minister Poulsen told they Jyllands-Posten newspaper.

“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,” he said.

In January this year, Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius cautioned that an increasingly confrontational Russian President Vladimir Putin might potentially target the NATO military alliance within the next ten years.

Poulsen said there is no direct threat against Denmark but the alliance could face hybrid attacks in efforts to destabilize a member country.

“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,” he said.

With inputs from Reuters.