NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday that any Russian attack on the Baltic region would be met with a devastating response, reaffirming the alliance’s commitment to defending every inch of its territory.
Speaking at a news conference ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday, Rutte stressed the urgency of strengthening deterrence and defense capabilities in response to growing global threats.
Speaking of a possible Russian attack on the Baltic region, Rutte said that “Vladimir Putin should know that if he tries to do that, our response will be devastating. And he knows it. We must ensure that our response is not only devastating today, but also three, five or seven years from now. That is why we must invest more in the Baltic region.”
Rutte stressed the importance of greater defense investment, noting that most allies are meeting the 2 percent of GDP target this year, but added that they must go further and faster to close gaps in NATO’s collective defense plans.
He rejected speculations about the withdrawal of American troops from Europe and called on the allies to stop doubting Washington’s position, but to take their own responsibility.
“There are currently no plans to withdraw US troops. What we do know is that the US is fully committed to NATO. They expect European and Canadian allies to spend much more,” he said.
The Secretary General also confirmed that Ukraine has been invited to the NATO summit, which will be held in The Hague from June 24 to 26.
Thursday’s meeting is aimed at preparing for the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, where decisions are expected on ambitious new capability goals, including air and missile defense, long-range weapons and large land maneuver formations.
Ministers will also discuss a new defense investment plan and hold a meeting of the Nuclear Planning Group, as part of efforts to deter threats and preserve peace through credible capabilities, AA writes.
