Brussels (Agencies): NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged member states to adopt a “wartime mindset” and significantly boost defense spending, warning that the bloc’s “future security is at stake.” Speaking at a meeting of the Military Committee in Chiefs of Defense in Brussels on Wednesday, Rutte cited alleged threats from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran as reasons for urgent action.
“To prevent war, we need to prepare for it. It is time to shift to a wartime mindset,” Rutte declared, emphasizing the need for NATO nations to invest in “more and better defense capabilities.” He acknowledged increased defense spending and military exercises by the alliance but deemed these efforts insufficient to address looming threats over the next four to five years.
Rutte also underscored NATO’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, suggesting that intensified aid is necessary to “change the trajectory of the war.” This follows a series of setbacks for Kiev on the battlefield, which NATO appears keen to counter.
Moscow has dismissed NATO’s assertions of a Russian threat, accusing the bloc of waging a proxy war against Russia and violating its territorial boundaries. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently claimed that NATO states are effectively at war with Russia, while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov likened the current situation to historical invasions by Napoleon and Hitler.
Rutte announced plans for a strengthened NATO presence in the Baltic Sea to safeguard undersea infrastructure, a critical area for Russian naval activity and energy exports. The mission, he stated, will involve frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, and naval drones to enhance surveillance and deterrence.
The announcement comes after an incident last month involving the Cook Islands-registered oil tanker Eagle S, which allegedly damaged the Estlink 2 power cable connecting Finland and Estonia. While no conclusive evidence has linked the tanker to sabotage, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has accused Russia of orchestrating attacks on Europe’s critical infrastructure through a “shadow fleet” of tankers, including the Eagle S. Finnish authorities have detained the vessel, but Moscow has not commented on the allegations.
Rutte’s call for heightened defense efforts and expanded NATO operations reflects growing tensions amid accusations and counteraccusations between the alliance and Russia.