NATO braces for new threats as Russia eyes "grey zones"

The French daily Le Figaro wrote on Thursday that NATO is preparing for war. The newspaper commented on the ongoing North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Washington. According to journalists, NATO's current supplies are at the lowest level in years, and Russia is targeting the alliance's "grey zones".

"Russia is targeting the alliance's grey zones, such as outer space and cyberspace," writes "Le Figaro". "American and European capabilities are uneven, and cooperation in these areas is still in its infancy," adds the newspaper.

The most pessimistic NATO estimates say that Russia needs about three to four years to regenerate forces depleted by the war in Ukraine, the newspaper reports.

"If this period is well used, it will allow allied forces, mainly European, to replenish their supplies. Currently, they are at the lowest level and are insufficient for waging a prolonged war," assesses the French daily.

The newspaper recalls that during the Cold War, NATO was preparing for a ground invasion by the Warsaw Pact countries, a military alliance led by the Soviet Union.

"Europeans would have to hold their positions until reinforcements arrived. Today, the West also assumes limited Russian invasions to test the alliance's resilience or complex operations combining traditional areas of engagement with new battlefields such as cyberspace, outer space, seabed, or the struggle for influence," writes "Le Figaro".

The daily "Le Monde," in turn, notes that French President Emmanuel Macron's presence in Washington is very discreet. The politician, who likes to emphasise his participation in important international meetings and wanted to be at the forefront of support for Ukraine, remained discreet at the alliance summit, writes the newspaper.

The newspaper indicates that due to the political chaos in France caused by the recent parliamentary elections, which the left won, Macron has also been "weakened on the international stage".