German intelligence chief warns, says Russia wants to test the West

Russia aims to test Western unity, particularly regarding NATO's collective defense clause, according to Bruno Kahl, head of the German BND intelligence service.

In an interview with broadcaster Deutsche Welle, he said Russia was considering testing the credibility of NATO's Article 5, which states that an attack on one ally must be treated as an attack on all.

"We very much hope that this is not true and that we will not be put in the difficult position of being tested. However, we must assume that Russia wants to test us, to test the unity of the West," Kahl said.

The timing of a Russian test of NATO's collective defense clause depends on the course of the war in Ukraine, according to Kahl, the Telegraph reports.

If the war ends earlier than 2029 or 2030, this would enable Russia to use its technical, material and personnel resources to create a threat against Europe more quickly, he noted.

"It is also possible that a concrete threat or blackmail attempt by Russia against Europeans could occur earlier than previously estimated," Kahl said.

"An early end to the war in Ukraine would allow the Russians to direct their energy where they really want to, namely against Europe," the head of German intelligence stressed.

Kahl said Russia envisions a future world order that resembles the situation in Europe in the late 90s, with NATO's defensive presence pushed back and Russia's sphere of influence expanding westward - ideally without an American presence in Europe. /Telegraph