Putin's 'global battle' against US & NATO: Russia 'testing' NATO since 2022 Ukraine invasion began

# Why This Matters Russia's documented transfer of advanced missile technology to Iran represents a significant escalation in the strategic competition between Moscow and Washington, with consequences extending far beyond the bilateral relationship. By arming Iran with systems that can threaten US allies and military assets across the Middle East, Russia is effectively opening a second front in its confrontation with NATO—one that stretches Western resources thinner while testing whether the alliance will respond coherently to threats outside the traditional European theater. This proliferation also destabilizes the region directly: Iranian-backed militias now possess more lethal capabilities to target Israel, Gulf states, and American forces, raising the probability of miscalculation or direct confrontation. The pattern reveals Russia's deliberate strategy to exhaust NATO by forcing responses simultaneously in Europe, the Middle East, and potentially elsewhere, betting that alliance cohesion will fracture under geographic and financial strain.