Why Russia has Europe on edge

Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon military fighter jets participate in NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission operate in Lithuanian airspace, Tuesday, Sept.12, 2023. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis) (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)Social SharingLISTEN | FRONT BURNER:Front Burner26:05Why Russia has Europe on edgeEarlier this week, Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party won a record number of seats in the country's parliamentary elections. Putin is expected to frame the result as an endorsement of his war with Ukraine. And, according to Ukrainian intelligence, he may mobilize hundreds of thousands more Russian troops before the end of the year. 

All of this has Europe on edge. Because Russia hasn't just been targeting Ukraine – but Ukraine’s allies too. In the last few weeks, a Russian ship fired flares at a Danish military helicopter, NATO jets shot down a drone over Lithuania, and Germany thwarted a suspected Russian drone attack at one of their airports. 

Many observers think Russia is intentionally trying to provoke NATO. But why? And what happens if NATO decides to fight back? 

Victor Jack, POLITICO’s NATO reporter, joins us from NATO’s headquarters in Brussels.For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit:  https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts