International security

Russian military ‘serious adversary’ after making ‘impressive’ progress – top NATO commander

The Russian military has significantly progressed in recent years to become “a very serious adversary” to the US and NATO, the bloc’s top commander has said, noting Russia’s army is now more professional, faster-learning, and more agile at thinking.

“Russia is back,” General Curtis Scaparrotti, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and head of US European Command, told the Aspen Security Forum on Friday.

Run by the renowned Aspen Institute to discuss US national security issues, this year’s forum featured top military brass, including US Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley, NSA Director Mike Rogers, and Commandant of the US Marine Corps Robert Neller.

“I’m impressed with the fact that they’ve taken a force that really had some serious problems only a few years ago,” General Scaparrotti said, referring to the large-scale military reforms and re-armament program that have been taking place in Russia in recent years.