CIA Chief’s Secret Moscow Mission: Washington Warns Putin Do Not Test NATO

Ratcliffe carried a blunt message to Moscow

CIA Director John Ratcliffe's secret trip to Moscow was not simply another attempt to revive the stalled Ukraine peace process.

According to multiple people familiar with the visit, Ratcliffe went to Russia with a warning from Washington:

Don't test NATO.

US intelligence agencies believe Vladimir Putin could be willing to authorise provocative operations against NATO countries — including cyberattacks, sabotage and other “grey zone” actions designed to test how far the alliance and Donald Trump are prepared to go.

A dangerous game of testing the West

The concern is not necessarily that Putin wants to launch an all-out war with NATO.

The greater danger is something more calculated.

Russia could conduct an operation deliberately designed to remain below the threshold of conventional war, then watch how NATO responds.

Recent incidents have already raised alarm bells, including Russian drone incursions into Romania, a missile crossing into Polish territory and an increase in alleged sabotage and cyberattacks across Europe.

For Moscow, the question would be whether NATO's famous Article 5 commitment is as solid as it looks on paper.

Trump plays down the mission

The secrecy surrounding Ratcliffe's visit makes it even more intriguing.

The CIA director travelled to Moscow aboard a US Air Force aircraft, while a diplomatic motorcade was seen moving through the Russian capital.

Ukraine was reportedly informed that a US delegation would be travelling to Moscow and asked to pause strikes during the visit.

Trump subsequently confirmed Ratcliffe's trip but dismissed suggestions that it was primarily about Russia potentially testing NATO.

He described it as a “semi-routine” visit and said something might come from the discussions about ending the Ukraine war.

That public description looks considerably less dramatic than the message Ratcliffe reportedly delivered behind closed doors.

And then there was Iran

Ratcliffe apparently had another warning for Moscow.

Iran.

According to people familiar with the meeting, the CIA director warned Russia that Washington could impose additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping.

That puts the Moscow mission into a much wider geopolitical picture.

Russia is maintaining its partnership with Iran and has reportedly provided Tehran with intelligence on US positions during the conflict.

At the same time, Washington is trying to pressure Moscow over Ukraine while warning it not to help Iran undermine the US campaign in the Middle East.

Three crises, one increasingly nervous Washington

The irony is striking.

Trump wants to end the Ukraine war.

He wants Iran forced into submission.

And he wants NATO allies to believe the United States will stand behind them if Russia tests the alliance.

But all three problems are now colliding.

The Ukraine negotiations are stalled. Iran remains defiant and Hormuz is still disrupting global shipping. And US intelligence believes Moscow may be tempted to probe NATO's defences.

Ratcliffe's secret journey therefore looks less like a routine diplomatic visit and more like Washington quietly putting up warning signs around three increasingly dangerous fronts.

The message to Putin appears straightforward:

Ukraine is one thing. Testing NATO is another.

SOURCE

When he got to Moscow Vlad held up an old VHS tape labeled Donald Trump and mouthing the words "Pee Pee tape" while all the Russians in the room broke out laughing for some reason.

What's so funny, Comrades? 😀

As I pointed out in a related thread, William Burns, Ratcliffe's predecessor at the CIA, flew in to Moscow in late 2021 to personally advise Putin against invading Ukraine.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

mad vlad dont care

Why would the CIA chief need to fly to Russia to warn them, we are constantly told that Ukraine is winning the war, so how can Russia attack Europe?, and why would Russia want to attack Europe not hard to figure Europe are arming the Ukranians and have from the start, so of course at some point there will be a response

7 minutes ago, howerde said:

Why would the CIA chief need to fly to Russia to warn them, we are constantly told that Ukraine is winning the war, so how can Russia attack Europe?, and why would Russia want to attack Europe not hard to figure Europe are arming the Ukranians and have from the start, so of course at some point there will be a response

Russia has been attacking Europe (what some people call hybrid warfare) for many years already.
They didn't know that?

Why?

Ask the Kremlin. They never lie.

This is the mainstream theory for why he went that I posted about some days ago. It was one of multiple theories though then. Now it has been confirmed.

No confidence that it accomplished Jack Sheit.

i think it was the event at leipzig airport that prompted US to tell them this is the red line

1 minute ago, mordothailand said:

i think it was the event at leipzig airport that prompted US to tell them this is the red line

Yes. That almost caused several German deaths and that would have been a NATO reckoning.

5 hours ago, NanLaew said:

As I pointed out in a related thread, William Burns, Ratcliffe's predecessor at the CIA, flew in to Moscow in late 2021 to personally advise Putin against invading Ukraine.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Yes, we all remember that time. Immediately after that visit, Putin issued an ultimatum to NATO, demanding they leave Eastern Europe, threatening military action if they didn't. The Americans then refused to comply with the ultimatum, and the time had come to carry out the threats. And then it suddenly became clear that the Russian elite would $hlt their pants at the mere mention of nuclear weapons. Of course, nuclear intimidation was out of the question with such an elite. The elite had to be replaced somehow. Where could we find people for leadership positions who wouldn't hesitate to press any red button at the first sign of a tsar`s order? And so, for four years now, Ukraine has been our talent pool. It's time for elections, when these nice people will finally take power. And then the CIA director suddenly started itching.

Edited yesterday at 01:34 PM1 day by zmisha

The visit was more about Iran than anything else.

18 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

The visit was more about Iran than anything else.

That's possible but imo if that was the case I think that Ratcliffe's plane would have continued on to Beijing.

Putin on the other hand is the best salesman for the western arms lobby. In fact with all the heavy (but useless) weaponery America and Europe will be pushing in, they should in fact give a commission to the Vladimir of Russia🤣

Putin will continue tp test NATO.

The timing of a self castrated USA led by a madman combined with a not ready without the UISA Europe will be too tempting for him.

He doesn't want war with NATO.

He wants NATO to be revealed as not functioning and also to end western democracies.

Similar goals to the Maga fascists and their fellow travelers in countries such as France.