If Russian President Vladimir Putin attacks NATO, the alliance's response will be “devastating”, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday, Sky News reported.
During a press conference ahead of a meeting of defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Secretary General Mark Rutte said defense spending would be a key issue at the meeting.
"We have credible plans to keep our one billion people safe in a more dangerous world," he said, adding that work was currently underway to agree on new ambitious defense goals for NATO allies.
Many allies, especially in Europe and Canada, are investing significantly more than others, he noted.
Referring to statements by US President Donald Trump about leveling military support for Ukraine, which is now approaching the fourth year of Russia's war on its territory, Rutte said he agreed with him that NATO allies "must level up" security assistance to Ukraine, but added that to truly change the trajectory of the conflict, "we need to do even more".
"I completely understand that the Americans want the Europeans and the Canadians to pay more", he added.
Asked about a new Danish intelligence report that Russia could start a major war in Europe within five years, Rutte said he did not want to comment on everything that comes out of the intelligence community, but added that he takes such assessments "very seriously".
"Let me go back to what I said before, which is that right now, if Putin attacks NATO, the reaction will be devastating. He will lose... So let him not try it. And he knows that, the deterrence and the defense are very strong," Rutte added.
New Secretary General: If Vladimir Putin Attacks NATO, Response Will Be Devastating
Asked about a new Danish intelligence report that Russia could start a major war in Europe within five years, Rutte says he doesn't want to comment on everything that comes out of the intelligence community
Feb 12, 2025 22:15 51
