Former NATO Military Committee Chair Warns of Increased Likelihood of War with Russia, Citing Weakened Industrial Mobilization
Admiral Rob Bauer, former Chair of the NATO Military Committee, has stated that the likelihood of war with Russia has increased, emphasizing that Russia could rebuild its capacity to attack NATO within approximately three years, even while its conflict in Ukraine continues. This assessment marks a shift from earlier intelligence estimates that suggested Russia would need several years post-Ukraine war to regenerate its forces. Bauer highlighted that Russia's expanding war economy and continued force generation are creating a more dangerous environment for NATO. He stressed that NATO's industrial mobilization system is severely weakened due to decades of assuming peace in Europe, leading to a lack of readiness in terms of ammunition reserves, replacement vehicles and aircraft, industrial capacity, and the ability to generate new personnel. Bauer's warning is not a prediction of inevitable war but an argument for accelerated deterrence, asserting that insufficient readiness could encourage Russian aggression...
