NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday that the transatlantic military alliance would respond with “full force” to any attack on Poland.
“When it comes to the defense of Poland and the overall protection of NATO territory, if anyone wrongly assumes that they could attack Poland or any other ally and escape consequences, they will face the full force of this tough alliance,” Rutte said in a press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a visit to Warsaw, reports Politico.
“The response will be devastating. This should be clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and anyone else who seeks to attack us,” Rutte added, commending Poland for spending 4.7% of its GDP on defense, the highest in the alliance.
“Let’s not forget that Russia is and remains the most significant and darkest threat to our alliance. Let’s not forget that Russia is heading toward a war economy,” Rutte continued.
Tusk emphasized the importance of NATO for the security of his country. “It is very important for us [to hear] the commitment that NATO will defend Poland in any critical situation,” he said, referring to Article 5 of the alliance’s collective defense.
This reaffirmation comes amid growing concerns within the alliance regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to NATO and the disdain he and his senior officials have expressed toward Europe.
However, Rutte stressed that the transatlantic relationship between the U.S. and Europe is “the pillar of our alliance, and this is not changing.”
Tusk and Rutte are set to travel to Paris, where French President Emmanuel Macron will host European leaders for another summit on Ukraine this Thursday.
