CIA Director John Ratcliffe used a highly secretive visit to Moscow this week to deliver a direct warning to Russian officials against launching attacks or provocative operations targeting NATO countries, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions.
The message comes amid U.S. intelligence assessments suggesting that Moscow may be considering actions designed to probe the strength and unity of the NATO alliance and determine how President Trump would respond to aggression against a member state.
Iran was also reportedly on Ratcliffe’s agenda. The CIA director warned Russian officials that additional sanctions could be imposed if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to commercial shipping, according to people briefed on the talks.
Ratcliffe’s previously undisclosed trip became public Tuesday after observers spotted a U.S. Air Force aircraft arriving at a Moscow airport and subsequently noticed a diplomatic motorcade traveling through the Russian capital.
The trip marked Ratcliffe’s first publicly known visit to Russia since becoming CIA director.
Ukrainian officials were informed in advance that an American delegation would be traveling to Moscow, according to a senior Ukrainian official. Kyiv was also asked to refrain from carrying out strikes during the period in which the U.S. delegation was visiting Russia.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that Ratcliffe’s mission included delivering the warning concerning potential Russian actions against NATO.
The CIA has declined to publicly explain the purpose of the director’s trip.
President Trump confirmed Wednesday that Ratcliffe had traveled to Moscow, telling radio host Glenn Beck that the visit was “semi-routine.” Trump disputed reports tying the mission specifically to Iran or concerns about Russia testing NATO.
Trump nevertheless suggested that the talks could ultimately produce developments connected to his efforts to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end, saying “something may come out of” Ratcliffe’s visit.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ratcliffe held discussions with Russian intelligence officials during his stay in Moscow but did not meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Thursday, Peskov rejected media accounts describing Ratcliffe’s visit as an effort to warn Russia against provocative action involving NATO.
“A lot of such scare stories are being published right now. Of course, they have nothing to do with reality,” Peskov said, while asserting that Russia “is facing a very aggressive policy towards itself from European countries.”
The reported warning comes against the backdrop of recent U.S. intelligence assessments indicating that Putin may be prepared to authorize provocative operations on NATO territory.
Those actions could include cyberattacks, hybrid operations and other forms of interference deliberately kept below the threshold of a conventional military assault, according to U.S. officials.
American officials believe the objective of such operations might be less about triggering an outright military confrontation and more about testing whether NATO members remain unified — and whether the Trump administration would follow through on American commitments to defend an ally under pressure.
A series of incidents involving Russia has heightened those concerns. Officials have pointed to Russian drone incursions into Romania, a Russian missile that entered Polish territory last month, and an increase in suspected sabotage operations and cyberattacks across Europe.
Article 5 of the NATO treaty provides for collective defense among alliance members, meaning an attack against one member can be treated as an attack against all. The United States invoked Article 5 following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Trump, however, has repeatedly criticized NATO countries that he believes fail to spend enough on their own defense and has publicly questioned whether alliance members are carrying their fair share of the security burden.
At the same time, Trump has been pressing Moscow and Kyiv to reach an agreement ending their four-year war, though efforts to secure a diplomatic breakthrough have recently shown signs of stalling.
Russia’s relationship with Iran has added another layer of tension to Washington’s dealings with Moscow during the U.S. war with Iran.
Russia has continued cooperating with Tehran and has provided Iran with intelligence regarding U.S. positions in the region, according to previous reports. Moscow and Tehran have also maintained years of cooperation involving the production of military drones.
{Matzav.com}
