SAEDNEWS: Former CIA Director Leon Panetta warned that Russia is increasingly testing European defenses and said the Strait of Hormuz has become a strategic pressure point for the US in negotiations with Iran. He also criticized Washington’s approach to the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
According to SaedNews:
Former US Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta said recent incidents, including a drone attack at Leipzig Airport, a Russian missile incident in Poland, a drone crash in Romania and repeated airspace violations in the Baltic countries, indicate that Russia is systematically testing Europe’s defenses.
Panetta said NATO must remain highly alert, warning that Moscow will continue examining whether Western countries are truly committed to supporting their partners. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to know whether the United States and NATO would actually follow through on Article 5 commitments.
The former US official said Moscow must be clearly informed that military actions against European countries will not be tolerated. He argued that Putin is under significant pressure because of the Ukraine war and that tensions between Donald Trump and European NATO partners could encourage Moscow to seek new distractions.
Panetta warned that Putin responds to signs of weakness and that if he senses divisions within NATO and the United States, he may continue provocations and attacks. He called for clearer red lines from the West.
Panetta also strongly criticized Washington’s approach to the Ukraine war, accusing US President Donald Trump of adopting a contradictory position.
He emphasized that the United States must make every effort to provide Ukraine with weapons, air defense systems and the support it needs. However, he said that because of shortages in military equipment, NATO and the US are currently only able to stand by and watch in some situations.
Panetta’s assessment of the Iran conflict was even more critical. He said the United States has never had a truly clear objective in the war, lacked an identifiable strategy and certainly did not have an end plan. According to him, the conflict has reached a deadlock, with both sides trapped.
He added that Iran now appears strategically strengthened and believes it can achieve its main goals, particularly regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Panetta said Tehran could use the closure of the vital oil route as leverage in negotiations, effectively putting “a gun to America’s head.” At the same time, he noted that US economic pressure has also seriously affected Iran, but Washington currently appears weakened in many respects.
In a hawkish statement, Panetta said the only real leverage remaining for the United States is bombing. However, he acknowledged that even this military option is becoming weaker because US supplies of Patriot, THAAD and other air defense missiles are limited.
Panetta warned that larger rivals such as China and Russia could exploit these vulnerabilities. He also criticized the prolonged deployment of US warships, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, in the region, saying it harms sailors’ morale, ship maintenance and operational readiness. He added that there is no justification for such extended deployments.
