Rutte Warns Russia May Attack NATO in Five Years

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned European leaders on Thursday that Russia poses an imminent threat to the alliance and could be prepared to launch military action against NATO within five years, urging members to bolster defenses amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Speaking in Berlin, Rutte described Russia as the primary aggressor, supported by China, and emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent a larger conflict. "We are Russia's next target," he said. "And we are already in harm's way." He highlighted Russia's war economy, noting that nearly 40 percent of its budget is devoted to military efforts and that 70 percent of its machine tools are used for defense production. Rutte pointed to China's role in sustaining the invasion, stating that about 80 percent of critical electronic components in Russian drones originate from there. Without such support, he argued, Russia could not continue its campaign in Ukraine. He called for NATO countries to ramp up munitions production and accept that future wars could bring destruction, mass mobilization and widespread suffering to the continent, reminiscent of conflicts endured by previous generations.