Rutte Warns of Rising NATO Threats
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned Wednesday that the alliance faces increasing threats from both Russia and China, as it prepares for the possibility of a full-scale Russian attack on NATO territory within the next few years, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency
Speaking in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Rutte suggested that China could coordinate with Russia to divert NATO's focus in Europe ahead of any move on Taiwan. “Xi Jinping would call Putin before acting on Taiwan,” Rutte said, adding that China’s military buildup—including over 1,000 nuclear warheads and a rapidly expanding navy—signals clear strategic intent.
He highlighted increasing Indo-Pacific threats, citing North Korea’s support for Russia in Ukraine, China’s supply of dual-use goods, and Iran’s drone tech contributions to Russia.
Rutte echoed predictions from German military officials that Russia could launch an attack on NATO within three to seven years. “Three years is today, five years is next week, seven years is next month,” he said, urging allies to increase defense budgets.
He emphasized that recent commitments to boost NATO defense spending were driven by real threats—not to satisfy political figures. “This is about protecting the US, Canada, and European allies,” Rutte said.
