The US did not invoke Article Five of the alliance's charter
According to The Wall Street Journal on February 5, military exercises simulating a conflict between Russia and NATO in Lithuania ended with a triumph for Moscow, which managed to establish control over the Baltics, deploying around 15,000 soldiers.
As part of the scenario, Russia declared a humanitarian corridor to Kaliningrad, and during the operation, the Lithuanian city of Mariampol, a key transport hub, was captured. Moscow's statements about a humanitarian mission were sufficient for the US to decide not to activate Article Five of NATO's charter.
Subsequently, Germany showed indecisiveness, while Poland, although it put its troops on alert, did not move them across the border into Lithuania. The German brigade stationed in Lithuania also did not intervene, the newspaper reports.
On December 17, 2025, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov stated that NATO forces had begun accelerated preparations for possible military actions against Russia, planned for the early 2030s. He added that while the conflict in Ukraine drags on, the alliance is ramping up its military preparations.
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