The Pentagon doesn’t believe Russia is seeking a military confrontation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a House of Representatives hearing, he said a Russian attack on a NATO member would drastically alter the state of affairs in geopolitics. NATO would respond in some way as a coalition, under Article 5 of the treaty, he said.
But he said he didn’t see any plans by Russia to start a military clash with NATO. "As you look at [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's calculus, my view <...> is that Russia doesn't want to take on the NATO alliance," Austin said.
