Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has issued a stark warning that Vladimir Putin could attack NATO territory within months, raising concerns about the United States' commitment to European defence.
Tusk's warning
Speaking to the Financial Times, Tusk expressed fears that the US may not come to Europe's aid in the event of a Russian attack. He described the reliability of NATO's Article 5 collective defence clause as the "biggest, most important question."
"For the whole eastern flank, my neighbours... the question is if NATO is still an organisation ready, politically and also logistically, to react, for example against Russia if they try to attack," Tusk said. "I'm talking about short-term perspectives, rather months than years... For us, it's really important to know that everyone will treat the NATO obligations as seriously as Poland."
The warning comes amid speculation that Putin is eyeing Western islands in the Baltic Sea to test NATO's resolve and the effectiveness of its Article 5 defence umbrella.
US commitment questioned
Tusk acknowledged that Washington treats Poland as its best and closest ally in Europe, but questioned what that would mean in practice if an attack occurred. "I want to believe that [Article 5] is still valid, but sometimes, of course, I have some problems… I don't want to be so pessimistic… but what we need today is also practical context," he added.
The Polish premier's remarks highlight growing anxiety among Eastern European NATO members about the alliance's ability to respond swiftly to potential Russian aggression. The situation remains a breaking story as developments unfold.
