In the opening lines of his speech in Berlin, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivered a stark warning.
“I am here today to show you where NATO stands and what we must do to prevent a war from starting. To do this, we must be crystal clear about the threat: we are Russia’s next target and we are already at risk,” he said.
While welcoming the decision to accelerate defense spending at the NATO summit in The Hague earlier this year, Rutte stressed that “this is no time for complacency.”
“I fear that many are quietly self-satisfied. Many do not feel the urgency. And many believe time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now. Allies’ defense spending and production must increase rapidly. Our armed forces must have what they need to keep us safe.”
Rutte emphasized that Russia “has become even more brazen, reckless, and ruthless toward NATO and Ukraine.”
“During the Cold War, President Reagan warned of the aggressive impulses of an evil empire. Today, President Putin has once again entered the empire-building business.”
He warned that, in Putin’s “distorted view of world history,” he believes that our freedom threatens his control over power and that we seek to destroy Russia.
Rutte also stated that China serves as Russia’s “lifeline,” enabling its aggressive line, with support from North Korea and Iran.
In a pointed remark, he acknowledged former U.S. President Trump, saying, “He is the only one who can bring Putin to the negotiating table.”
“Let’s put Putin to the test. Let’s see if he truly wants peace or prefers the massacre to continue,” Rutte concluded.
