WASHINGTON, September 23. /TASS/. Russia is not seeking a conflict with the North Atlantic Alliance, according to US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker.

"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin does not want a conflict with NATO," the Associated Press quoted Whitaker as saying following a panel discussion hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in Des Moines, Iowa.

Whitaker also urged against overreacting to drone incidents in European countries, for which Washington’s allies are trying to hold Russia responsible.

According to the US envoy, "this is exactly what NATO’s opponents would want or hope for."

The US envoy stated during his meeting in Des Moines that the military potential of American allies had been undermined by the illusion of peace that emerged following the collapse of the Soviet Union, with many NATO member states becoming ineffective.

"Fundamentally, you know, we just we need more capable allies; we need allies that just have more stuff in their inventory," Whitaker concluded.