Warning that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin wants to “wipe Ukraine off the map” and that other parts of Europe are at risk, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on Europeans to urge governments to step up their spending on defence. “It is time to shift to a wartime mindset,” he told security experts in a keynote address at the Carnegie Europe think-tank in Brussels yesterday. Russia could attempt to deploy “swarms of drones” in Europe as it has in Ukraine, he cautioned, and people should therefore prepare themselves accordingly.
Rutte’s remarks come just months after assuming his role at NATO. The former Dutch prime minister accused Putin of “trying to crush our freedom and way of life,” pointing to Moscow’s attacks on Georgia in 2008, the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that was to follow. “How many more wake-up calls do we need?“, he asked. “Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation. With Ukraine, and with us.”
Since his appointment, Rutte has visited the capitals of the alliance’s 32 members, including the United States to meet with President-elect Donald Trump. The latter’s imminent return to the White House and his public pledge to end the war in Ukraine promptly has raised concerns that Kyev might come under pressure to accept an unfavourable truce. NATO has helped members deliver weapons, ammunition and other support into Ukraine.
Rutte told the Associated Press that Ukraine had to be involved in any peace talks. “A bad deal means Putin coming out on top, and that will have worldwide ramifications, not only in Europe and Ukraine.”
A constant Trump refrain has been that other NATO members are not spending enough on defence. Rutte pointed out that Russia’s military spending is likely to be between 7 to 8% of its GDP next year – far more than any NATO ally. However, he did note that European defence spending has risen sharply and that 23 NATO allies are expected to reach the alliance’s goal of putting 2% of GDP into their military budgets. “A lot more than 2%” would be need, he added.
“Our deterrence is good – for now – but it’s tomorrow I’m worried about,” the NATO Secretary General said. “We are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years. Danger is moving towards us at full speed… Ukraine could happen here too, and regardless of the outcome of this war, we will not be safe in the future unless we are prepared to deal with danger.”
In an appeal to governments to provide the defence industry with “the big orders and long-term contracts they need to rapidly produce more and better capabilities,” Rutte urged the industry to boost production for defences against drones and other new war tactics. “If we don’t spend more together now to prevent war, we will pay a much, much, much higher price later to fight it. Not billions, but trillions of euros. That’s if we come out on top, and that’s if we win,” he said.
