NATO calls for 'war mode' as Russia, China ramp up military
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned Western countries that they are not ready for what awaits them "in four to five years." He called for a shift to "wartime mindset" and an increase in production and defence spending.
During a conference organized by the think tank Carnegie Europe, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that the West is not prepared for the challenges that may arise in the next four to five years.
Rutte highlighted the long-term threat from Russia, which is preparing for a prolonged confrontation with Ukraine and NATO. Russian military spending is projected to reach 7-8% of GDP by 2025, the highest level since the Cold War. Additionally, Rutte pointed to the growing ambitions of China, which plans to increase the number of nuclear warheads from 200 in 2020 to over 1,000 by 2030.
The NATO Secretary General stressed that the European defence industry has been weakened by decades of underinvestment. Russia is rebuilding its forces faster than anticipated, and the Chinese military-industrial base is developing at a rate five to six times faster than the American one.
Rutte urged NATO governments to place large orders and sign long-term contracts with the defence industry.
NATO chief appeals
Rutte called on the citizens of NATO member states to put pressure on banks and pension funds to invest in the defence industry. "Investing in defence is an investment in our security," he emphasized. He noted that current defence spending is higher than a decade ago but still lower than during the Cold War. "If we don’t spend more together now to prevent war, we will pay a much, much, much higher price later to fight it," Rutte warned.
