CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unusual visit to Moscow this week to warn Russia against launching an attack on NATO, according to US media reports.
The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the visit, reported that the move was prompted by US intelligence assessments indicating that Russia could seek to test the alliance’s collective defense by launching a “limited attack” against one of its member states in the coming years.
During his visit on Tuesday, Ratcliffe also discussed the war with Iran and warned that additional sanctions could be imposed if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened to shipping, CBS News reported, citing informed sources.
Ratcliffe’s visit came amid escalating fighting between Russia and Ukraine, with attacks this summer increasing the civilian death toll as US-backed peace talks have stalled.
Ratcliffe is among the highest-ranking US officials to visit Russia since Moscow launched its war against Ukraine in 2022.
According to reports by The New York Times and The Washington Post, Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow aboard a US Air Force C-17A military transport aircraft that departed from Andrews Air Force Base near Washington and stopped in Riga, Latvia, before continuing to Moscow.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed that the aircraft remained in Moscow for about eight hours before departing. Photos and videos circulating online also showed a convoy of vehicles with diplomatic license plates moving through the Russian capital, according to the two newspapers.
The White House did not respond to AFP requests for comment.
Source: AFP
