UK's Top General Breaks Down Putin's Reluctance to Attack NATO

Analysts are examining the factors that have prevented Russian President Vladimir Putin from escalating the invasion of Ukraine into a wider international conflict.

Despite initial concerns that this could lead to a third world war, such a scenario has not unfolded. One analyst believes he has identified the underlying reasons preventing this development.

Royal Navy Admiral Sir Antony Radakin might be a name not many people know but, as the Chief of the Defence Staff, he’s none other than the head of the British Armed Forces.

Radakin spoke in February 2024 about the possibility of a full-on conflict between the Russian Federation and the countries that make up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The head of the British Armed Forces responded in a way that shocked many.

The Daily Mail reported that, during an event in London’s Chatham House, Radakin confessed that not only was an open war between Western Europe and Russia not near, but it was also, in fact, very unlikely.

The reason? Well, according to Radakin, it’s because Vladimir Putin is afraid of a direct confrontation with NATO.

“Britain is safe. We are safe because we are part of NATO, the world’s largest and strongest alliance, and also because we are a responsible nuclear power”. Radakin assured the public, as quoted by British newspaper The Standard.

According to The Standard, the operational head of the British Armed Forces told the audience that there were surprised how weak and inexperienced Russian troops turned out to be while on the ground in Ukraine.

“The inescapable fact is that any Russian assault or incursion against NATO would prompt an overwhelming response”, Radakin stated, as quoted by Business Insider.

According to Al Jazeera, Russia was estimated to have over 1.3 million soldiers by January 2024 and overall, 2.2 million people as Russian military personnel.

NATO, meanwhile, is reported to have some 3.5 million soldiers, with thousands already mobilized in Poland in the Baltic countries.

“The biggest reason that Putin doesn't want a conflict with NATO is because Russia will lose. And lose quickly”, assured the British Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin, per Business Insider.

Radakin, however, believes that this doesn’t mean that Russia would be dissuaded to commit acts of cyberattack and other forms of sabotage.

It’s important to remember that, in the past, the current Chief of the British Defence Staff made some wild predictions about the turn of the war that failed to come true.

The Financial Times reported in July 2023 that Radakin affirmed that Russia had lost half of its combat capabilities and rejected criticism on Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

And all the way back in June 2022, German state news agency DW quoted Radakin claiming that Russia had already lost the war.

Let’s hope Radakin is right on the money this time, otherwise all bets are off when it comes to World War III.