Will Russia attack NATO?

  • Fri, September 4, 2026 • 10:00 am ET
  • Virtual event

The Eurasia Center examines the Russian threat to NATO and speculation surrounding CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow.

On Friday, September 4 at 10:00 a.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center will host a discussion on the Russian threat to NATO and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe’s surprise visit to Moscow.

For weeks, media reports have indicated that some Western intelligence services believe the Kremlin may be considering a limited incursion into NATO territory—or another major provocation—to test the Alliance. On August 25, Ratcliffe made an unusual visit to Moscow. While details of the trip were initially scarce, subsequent reporting suggested that a key objective was to warn Russia against attacking NATO, potentially in the Baltic states. 

This conversation will explore questions surrounding Ratcliffe’s Moscow visit and concerns about a Russian attack against NATO.  

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Speakers

Glenn Corn
Professor,
Institute of World Politics;
Former Senior Executive,
Central Intelligence Agency

Agnia Grigas
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Eurasia Center,
Atlantic Council

Garry Kasparov
Chairman and Founder,
Renew Democracy Initiative (RDI)

Torrey Taussig
Director and Senior Fellow, Transatlantic Security Initiative, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security,
Atlantic Council

Moderated by

Amb. John Herbst
Senior Director, Eurasia Center,
Atlantic Council

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