Official NATO declarations or press releases

NATO Chief Rutte Urges Wartime Mindset, Increased Defense Spending Amidst Russia Confrontation

Dec 12, 2024, 02:22 PM

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a stark warning about the current global security situation, describing it as the worst he has seen in his lifetime. Speaking at an event titled 'To Prevent War, NATO Must Dial Up its Defenses', Rutte highlighted that Russia, with support from China, Iran, and North Korea, is preparing for a long-term confrontation with Ukraine and NATO. He emphasized the need for NATO to adopt a wartime mindset and significantly increase defense spending, stating that the alliance is not ready for the threats expected in the next four to five years. Rutte called for a drastic shift in mentality among NATO member states, urging them to prepare mentally for potential conflict and to support increased defense expenditures to deter future aggression. He also expressed concerns about China's development of nuclear weapons without transparency and restrictions.