NATO chief Rutte: Time to switch to a war mentality

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned on Tuesday that Europe must allocate “a lot more money” for defense.

“It is time to switch to a war mentality,” the alliance’s secretary-general said in his first major speech since taking office in October.

Rutte called for public support and a sense of sacrifice to “prevent another major war on NATO soil.”

Rutte’s appeal comes as Ukrainian forces are retreating on the battlefield in the face of a larger and better-equipped Russian army.

According to him, more than ten thousand people are killed or wounded on both sides in the war in Ukraine every week, Reuters writes.

“The danger is approaching us with great speed. “What is happening in Ukraine could happen here too,” Rutte said, adding that there was no immediate military threat to NATO, but that this did not prevent Russia from preparing for “a long-term conflict with Ukraine and 32 NATO countries.” According to him, the Russian economy is on a war footing, while in Europe countries are reluctant to spend more on increasing their defense capabilities. In addition to Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are working to weaken North America and Europe, he said, adding that “we must remain vigilant about the ambitions of China, which is significantly increasing its forces, including its nuclear weapons, without limits and without transparency.”