The purpose of CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow this week was to warn Russia against attacking NATO member states, according to several people familiar with the matter, amid assessments by US intelligence that Russia might try to test NATO. Ratcliffe also mentioned Iran, warning of additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened to maritime traffic, people familiar with the matter told CBS News. at a Moscow airport and a diplomatic motorcade passed through the city. CBS News was first to report on the trip, which is Ratcliffe’s first known visit to Russia as CIA director. Ukraine was told that a US delegation would travel to Moscow and was asked to postpone attacks during the visit, according to a senior Ukrainian official. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report Ratcliffe’s warning against attacking NATO. The CIA declined to comment on the reasons for Ratcliffe’s trip. President Trump confirmed the Moscow visit in an interview with radio host Glenn Beck early Wednesday, but said it was not related to Iran or Russian desires to test NATO, describing it as a “semi-routine” trip. Trump said “something might come out” of Ratcliffe’s visit, signaling his push to end Russia’s war with Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Ratcliffe spoke with Russian intelligence officials but did not meet with President Vladimir Putin. Recent U.S. intelligence assessments have indicated that Putin may be willing to authorize provocative actions on NATO territory, including cyberattacks, hybrid actions and other operations that fall short of conventional military actions, CBS News reported earlier this month. The likely goal would not necessarily be to spark a war, but to test NATO unity and the Trump administration’s willingness to defend NATO allies, according to US officials. A pattern of recent actions by Russia has raised concerns, officials said, including drone raids in Romania, a Russian missile that crossed into Poland last month and an increase in alleged sabotage actions and cyberattacks in Europe. Under Article 5 of the treaty that created NATO, alliance members are expected to move closer to each other. the defense of the other in the event of attack, a provision the United States invoked after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. But Trump has long questioned NATO’s reliability and criticized member states for, in his view, not contributing enough to their own defense. Trump has also publicly pressured Russia and Ukraine to end their four-year war, although diplomatic efforts appear to have stalled. Meanwhile, Russia has maintained its partnership with Iran during the US war against the Middle Eastern state, providing intelligence to Iran about US positions in the region, CBS News reported earlier this year. The two countries have also been cooperating for years in the manufacturing of drones. Jennifer Jacobs and Aidan Stretch contributed to this report. More from CBS News Go deeper with The Free Press
