CIA Director Ratcliffe warns Russia against NATO attacks during Moscow visit
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U.S. intelligence chief John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow to caution Russia not to target NATO members, also raising sanctions over the Strait of Hormuz, officials said.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a secretive trip to Moscow this week, during which he warned Russian officials against attacking NATO member states, according to sources familiar with the mission. The visit, the first known by Ratcliffe as CIA chief to Russia, also included a warning that additional sanctions could be imposed if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to shipping.
U.S. officials said the warning aligns with recent intelligence assessments that Moscow might test NATO’s cohesion through cyber, hybrid or limited military actions, rather than a full-scale war. Recent incidents cited include drone incursions into Romania, a missile that entered Polish airspace and a rise in alleged sabotage and cyber attacks across Europe.
The trip was disclosed after a U.S. Air Force aircraft landed at a Moscow airport and a diplomatic motorcade moved through the city. Ukrainian officials were informed in advance and asked to pause strikes while the delegation was in Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Ratcliffe met with Russian intelligence officials but did not see President Vladimir Putin. The CIA declined to comment on the purpose of the visit.
"Something may come out of" the trip, President Donald Trump told radio host Glenn Beck, describing the mission as "semi-routine" and not directly linked to Iran or NATO concerns.
The United States has repeatedly emphasized NATO’s Article 5 commitment to collective defence, a principle invoked after the September 11 attacks, even as President Trump has previously questioned the alliance’s reliability and urged European members to increase defence spending.