**ISTANBUL**
Russia wants to test Western unity, particularly in relation to NATO's collective defense clause, according to the head of Germany's BND intelligence service.
Bruno Kahl told German outlet Deutsche Welle that Russia is contemplating testing the dependability of NATO's Article 5, which mandates that an attack on one ally is regarded as an attack on all.
"We very much hope this is not true and that we will not be put in the difficult position of it being tested. However, we must assume that Russia wants to test us, to put the unity of the West to the test," he said.
Kahl added that the timing of Russia's test of NATO's collective defense clause hinges on developments in the Ukraine war, which recently started its fourth year.
If the Ukraine war concludes before 2029 or 2030, Russia would be able to utilize its technical, material, and personnel resources to pose a threat to Europe more quickly, he warned.
Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but since the start of the war, Finland and Sweden did join the alliance after long resisting doing so.
The small Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, which all border Russia, have been NATO members since 2004.
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