NATO prepares 4,400-page defence plan in case of war with Russia - Welt

There is growing confidence in NATO that war with Russia is inevitable. They believe that the West is already in "Phase Zero" and after the end of the war in Ukraine, the risk of a Russian attack on the Alliance countries, especially on the Baltic states, will increase many times over, Welt writes.

In particular, according to a former senior NATO general, despite the uncertainty of the timing of the conflict in Ukraine, the risk of aggression from Moscow will become critically high as soon as the war is over.

The publication writes that NATO is concerned not only about the growing threat, but also about the reorganisation of Russian military districts, which increases the number of Russian troops on the Alliance's borders. The head of Estonian intelligence, Kaupo Rozin, said that Russian forces currently being moved to Ukraine could return to NATO regions after the conflict ends, which would create the threat of a lightning attack.

To prevent this threat, NATO is already preparing secret defence plans. A 4,400-page plan, "Eastern Flank Deterrence Line Concept," was recently unveiled, which includes the use of drones and autonomous weapons, as well as reinforcing the eastern border with heavier weapons and improving networking between troops.

As Belgium's defence minister has said, any attack on NATO, even non-nuclear, will result in a brutal response.

It's a matter of time - and Russia seems to be preparing for a new round of confrontation," he said.