Latvia's foreign minister warns of Russian sabotage acts on Europe
For many countries in Europe that recall living under Soviet occupation, the specter of the Russian threat is never far from mind. Many of those nations are now part of NATO, the alliance built to repel that threat. One of those states that was occupied for half a century is Latvia, a NATO member that borders Russia. Nick Schifrin spoke with its foreign minister after an active week of diplomacy.
U.S. forces stationed in Europe are grappling with a "beyond critical" shortage of Patriot missiles, according to multiple defense sources. This crisis is largely attributed to the ongoing war in the Middle East, raising concerns about the vulnerability of NATO countries to potential Russian attacks. A U.S. official emphasized that a Russian ballistic missile strike on military installations or power plants could leave NATO in the same predicament as Ukraine.
The official also stated that American forces simply do not possess enough Patriots to deter a sustained ballistic missile assault, with their ability to counter a single stray missile also deemed "very limited." Although a European intelligence official in February suggested Russia would refrain from open conflict with NATO this year or next, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte indicated in June 2025 that Moscow would be prepared to strike within five years.
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