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Bloomberg: European officials doubt the CIA chief’s Moscow trip was mainly about an attack on NATO

Source: Bloomberg

European officials are confident that there is no evidence to suggest Russia is preparing for a conventional attack on NATO or a Baltic state, sources told Bloomberg.

They doubt the issue was the main focus of CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s August 25 visit to Moscow. Bloomberg’s sources said the topics most likely raised included ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, reaffirming NATO’s Article 5 commitments in the face of a potential attack, and the war in Iran.

One of the officials said Ratcliffe’s visit was also likely aimed at heading off an overly harsh Russian reaction to U.S. economic measures against Iran that could also affect Russia, as well as persuading Moscow to end its support for Tehran.

None of the officials had been briefed by the U.S. on the details of Ratcliffe’s meeting, according to Bloomberg. Their assessments were based on their own intelligence and their understanding of how the U.S. typically operates.

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