Photo: RBC
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has warned that Russia could stage a false flag operation as a pretext for attacking a NATO member, stressing that the Alliance must be prepared for such a scenario.
Speaking in an interview with CBS News, Sikorski was asked how likely it is that Russia could test NATO's Article 5 within the next two years.
He replied that as long as Ukraine continues to resist successfully, Russia lacks the military capability to launch a successful attack against NATO.
However, Sikorski referred to recent remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said Russia would respond if it came under attack. According to the Polish minister, Moscow could attempt to manufacture such a justification.
"We have no such plans whatsoever. That is why I cannot rule out the possibility that Russia could stage a false flag operation on its own territory to create a pretext for striking a NATO country. We must make it clear to Putin that we know what he is planning, that we will not be deceived, and that any attack would trigger NATO's response," Sikorski said.
Asked where such a provocation could occur, he pointed to the Suwalki Gap, which is often viewed as one of NATO's most vulnerable areas.
Sikorski emphasized that Poland has significantly strengthened its armed forces.
"We spend 4.8% of our GDP on defense — proportionally more than the United States. We are becoming stronger. We have F-16s, F-35s, Abrams tanks, HIMARS, and an army that is ready to fight."
He added that the Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — may feel even more exposed, noting that Putin has repeatedly threatened them.
The interviewer also asked about Poland's Eastern Shield fortification project and whether substantial progress is expected this year.
Sikorski said precautionary measures are necessary but stressed that Russia currently lacks sufficient forces to threaten Poland directly.
"We would see such a buildup in advance. We knew Russia was concentrating troops along Ukraine's border six months before the full-scale invasion. Many simply believed Putin could not be that criminal. Unfortunately, his intentions proved to be exactly as dangerous as some had warned. If he begins building up forces near our borders, we will respond as we always have."
Growing concerns over Russian provocations
Earlier this week, The Guardian reported that Russia may be preparing military and hybrid provocations along NATO's eastern flank in an attempt to test Allied unity amid growing pressure from Ukraine's long-range strikes.
Just days earlier, Sikorski also warned that Moscow could be preparing a staged false flag incident to justify further escalation.
