The Danish Defense Intelligence Service (DDIS) warned on Wednesday that Russia may find the opportunity to launch a large-scale war on Europe within five years.
“Russia perceives itself as being in conflict with the West and is preparing for a war against NATO. While no decision to initiate such a war has been made, Russia is building the capacity to make that choice if deemed necessary,” claimed the DDIS.
The DDIS claimed in an unclassified intelligence assessment, if Moscow “perceives NATO as militarily weakened or politically divided,” Russia may consider war in Europe.
The latest intelligence assessment comes amid a series of increasingly dire warnings from Western leaders and defense officials about the threat emanating from Russia and Europe’s current lack of preparedness.
The DDIS in its report noted that fracturing among alliance members could present an opportunity for Moscow to capitalize, particularly if the United States is unwilling to protect its European allies.
The DDIS report assessed that Russia may be able to wage war with a neighboring country within six month if it is able to reallocate military resources from Ukraine in the event of a frozen conflict or the end of the war.
The report also concluded that Moscow poses a regional threat to Baltic states within two years, and a large-scale war with Europe in five years, presuming the U.S. does not intervene.
