Belgian army chief Michel Hofman has stated that after Ukraine, Vladimir Putin may attack the Baltic States and Moldova, as reported by Politico. Russia has already demonstrated its “will to attack a neighbor.”
“Russian President Vladimir Putin’s language is always ambiguous. It is absolutely possible that they will also have other ideas later. Either in the south in Moldova or the Baltic States,” said Hofman during a visit to Belgian soldiers stationed in Romania.
Hofman noted that Russia has fully embraced military tracks and is developing its military industry. “Even if Moscow’s forces seem weakened at the moment due to their ongoing war against Ukraine, this weakness is “temporary”. If Russia wins the war, it will eventually regenerate the war machine and rebuild its armed forces,” the army chief warned.
Hofman called on Europe to prepare for a possible confrontation with Russia. “Europe must urgently prepare and make it clear that it can defend itself and that it will … counterattack if necessary,” emphasized the Chief of Defense of the Belgian Armed Forces.
Putin has already threatened Finland with “problems” over the country’s NATO membership. Meanwhile, Europe has between 5 to 8 years to “make up for lost time” in the defense sector to confront new threats, said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Cover: Dirk Waem/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
