NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Russia was not currently preparing to invade NATO countries, but that could change in a few years if the West did not invest more in defense.
Kremlin dictator Putin has no plans to attack NATO countries yet, but such a threat is quite real in the next 5-7 years.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated this in an interview quoted by The New York Times.
During the conversation, the journalist recalled a publication in The New Yorker about recent military exercises in Estonia, which were aimed at testing the country's readiness for a potential Russian invasion. The article pointed out that Estonia does not have its own naval and air forces, and in a simulated conflict, the aggressor army had a significant advantage in armored vehicles and long-range weapons.
However, Rutte does not consider this scenario an alarming signal.
No. What The New Yorker described is true, but it did not set off alarm bells for us, because we already have all the necessary plans in case Estonia is attacked – and the Russians know this – our response will be devastating,” the Secretary General emphasized.
According to him, NATO not only has defense plans, but is also working on their practical implementation.
“We must not only have these plans, but also ensure that we have the people and military equipment to implement them. That is why we need to spend more,” he explained.
Rutte stressed that Putin is currently refraining from attacking because he understands that NATO's response will be powerful, including with the participation of the United States.
“It is not that the Estonians will be left alone. The full might of NATO will be used, including the full support of the US, which will come to the rescue. Putin knows. That is why he will not attack Estonia now. But he may do so in 5 or 7 years if we do not make all the necessary additional investments,” Rutte warned.
When asked whether he was confident in the US's readiness to defend Estonia given President Donald Trump's ambivalent stance, Rutte responded decisively.
“100%. I have no doubts, and this was absolutely clear during the final press conference in The Hague. In addition, everything that I have discussed over the last six months with the new US administration, there is absolutely no hint of doubt: the US is fully committed to NATO and fully supports Article 5,” the Secretary General said.
At the same time, he acknowledged that there was serious irritation in the relationship: “Europeans were not paying their fair share.”
Earlier it was reported that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on the United States not to stop military support for Ukraine, despite the temporary blocking of supplies.
We previously reported that Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said that he could pose a military threat to NATO territory within five years – until 2030.
