A recent Russian drone attack on Poland, though unsuccessful, is being interpreted by some experts as a calculated move by Russia to gauge NATO’s response to a direct incursion. According to military expert Oleg Zhdanov, the perceived lack of a robust reaction from the alliance may have been seen by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "green light" for further aggression, reports The WP Times citing TSN.
Zhdanov, in an interview with the Ukrainian news site TSN.ua, suggests that Putin understands he can act with impunity while NATO's response remains limited to expressions of "concern." He argues that Russia's leader is testing the alliance's unity and its commitment to collective defense.
"He understands that tomorrow, if he seizes Narva with 'little green men,' NATO will be 'concerned'," Zhdanov stated. "By the way, when they talked about these red lines, I suggested that Putin could dismantle NATO in 24 hours. Attack one of the NATO countries—and that's it. They will chew on the fourth Article of their own Charter—consultations on threats—like rats and eat each other. And that will be the end of NATO."
Zhdanov’s analysis paints a picture of a Kremlin leader who believes he can exploit internal divisions within the alliance. The expert's stark warning highlights the potential fragility of NATO’s collective defense pact if faced with a direct challenge.
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