RAND Corporation Report Maps Potential Europe War by 2030 Following Putin's Hypothetical Death
The RAND Corporation, a prominent American think-tank, has released a report titled 'RAND Report: Ready for War 2030 – A Scenario,' outlining a hypothetical, non-predictive scenario where Europe could face a peer-level military conflict with Russia by 2030. This scenario posits that the imaginary death of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2027 would trigger a succession crisis, leading to an FSB general becoming president and a subsequent rebuilding of Russia's military. By 2028, Russia would launch a hybrid campaign against NATO countries, intensifying cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation by 2030. The scenario culminates in a limited Russian incursion into Estonia in May 2030, exploiting ethnic tensions and leading to NATO invoking Article 5 and a full-scale conflict. The report suggests that NATO's current preparedness is inadequate for such a confrontation, highlighting vulnerabilities in industrial capacity, personnel, and stockpiles among European members.
