“We are not ready for what is coming at us in the next four or five years.” So said Mark Rutte in his first major speech as NATO secretary general. To prevent another major war, much more money needs to go to defense, but that requires the support of the people of NATO countries. According to the NATO chief, it is “time to prepare spiritually for war.”
“I feel very honored to begin a crucial conversation with the people of NATO countries, especially in Europe and Canada,” Rutte began his speech. “You are the ones I am talking to,” Rutte said. “It is your support that I need. It is your voices and actions that will determine our future security.”
His story was anything but reassuring. “I will be honest: the security situation does not look good. It is without a doubt the worst in my lifetime. And I suspect in yours as well.”
Rutte mentioned the war in Ukraine and the North Koreans fighting along with the Russians. He thinks we should be “seriously concerned.” “I am.”
In his view, everything points to Russia preparing for a “prolonged confrontation,” both with Ukraine and “with us,” referring to NATO countries.
“Russia, China, but also North Korea and Iran are working hard to weaken North America and Europe. To undermine our freedom. They want to change the world order. Not to create a fairer system, but to secure their own influence. They are testing us and the rest of the world is watching.”
For example, he expressed concern about Chinese nuclear weapons. China is developing more and more of them and it is doing so “without transparency and restrictions.”
Rutte emphasized that we are not at war, “but there is certainly no peace.” There is no immediate military threat to the 32 NATO countries, but Rutte is uneasy.“ We are not ready for what is coming at us in the next four or five years,” he said.
“The danger is coming at us at full speed,” the NATO chief said. “We should not look the other way. We have to face it: what happens in Ukraine can happen here. We will not be safe in the future, regardless of the outcome of this war, unless we are prepared to deal with danger.”
**’Being faster and brighter’**
Rutte is confident that NATO countries can prevent “the next major war on NATO soil.” That will require a drastic change of course, however.“ We all need to be faster and fiercer.
It is time to prepare ourselves mentally for war.”
Moreover, that means more money must go to defense. As far as NATO is concerned, much needs to be done for deterrence. So does restoring peace. “We are not where we want to be,” he said. NATO member states risk falling behind China and Russia, Rutte said.
Toward the end of his speech, he admitted that he knows politicians “talk a lot,” but also said they “make decisions when necessary.” “But to execute, people have to support these decisions. It is in your hands. Hence I ask for your support. Action is urgent.”
Rutte “does not have the luxury” to think about whether he is scaring people, he told NOS afterwards.
“I can only do one thing: share what I know from my knowledge and conviction,” he said.
“We face a fundamental choice. We can decide not to do it (more money to defense, ed.), but then we are at risk. If we do, we will be able to defend ourselves in the long term.”
From Rutte, the money does not necessarily have to come from Social Security, health care or pensions. It may come “from all kinds of other sources.” “What I want is for us to eventually get that money together,” he said. His message to the Netherlands is clear: “If we don’t move forward now, we run a very big risk in the next four to five years.”
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Dread it, run from it, the Rutte doctrine arrives all the same
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“We are not ready for what is coming at us in the next four or five years.” So said Mark Rutte in his first major speech as NATO secretary general. To prevent another major war, much more money needs to go to defense, but that requires the support of the people of NATO countries. According to the NATO chief, it is “time to prepare spiritually for war.”
“I feel very honored to begin a crucial conversation with the people of NATO countries, especially in Europe and Canada,” Rutte began his speech. “You are the ones I am talking to,” Rutte said. “It is your support that I need. It is your voices and actions that will determine our future security.”
His story was anything but reassuring. “I will be honest: the security situation does not look good. It is without a doubt the worst in my lifetime. And I suspect in yours as well.”
Rutte mentioned the war in Ukraine and the North Koreans fighting along with the Russians. He thinks we should be “seriously concerned.” “I am.”
In his view, everything points to Russia preparing for a “prolonged confrontation,” both with Ukraine and “with us,” referring to NATO countries.
“Russia, China, but also North Korea and Iran are working hard to weaken North America and Europe. To undermine our freedom. They want to change the world order. Not to create a fairer system, but to secure their own influence. They are testing us and the rest of the world is watching.”
For example, he expressed concern about Chinese nuclear weapons. China is developing more and more of them and it is doing so “without transparency and restrictions.”
Rutte emphasized that we are not at war, “but there is certainly no peace.” There is no immediate military threat to the 32 NATO countries, but Rutte is uneasy.“ We are not ready for what is coming at us in the next four or five years,” he said.
“The danger is coming at us at full speed,” the NATO chief said. “We should not look the other way. We have to face it: what happens in Ukraine can happen here. We will not be safe in the future, regardless of the outcome of this war, unless we are prepared to deal with danger.”
**’Being faster and brighter’**
Rutte is confident that NATO countries can prevent “the next major war on NATO soil.” That will require a drastic change of course, however.“ We all need to be faster and fiercer.
It is time to prepare ourselves mentally for war.”
Moreover, that means more money must go to defense. As far as NATO is concerned, much needs to be done for deterrence. So does restoring peace. “We are not where we want to be,” he said. NATO member states risk falling behind China and Russia, Rutte said.
Toward the end of his speech, he admitted that he knows politicians “talk a lot,” but also said they “make decisions when necessary.” “But to execute, people have to support these decisions. It is in your hands. Hence I ask for your support. Action is urgent.”
Rutte “does not have the luxury” to think about whether he is scaring people, he told NOS afterwards.
“I can only do one thing: share what I know from my knowledge and conviction,” he said.
“We face a fundamental choice. We can decide not to do it (more money to defense, ed.), but then we are at risk. If we do, we will be able to defend ourselves in the long term.”
From Rutte, the money does not necessarily have to come from Social Security, health care or pensions. It may come “from all kinds of other sources.” “What I want is for us to eventually get that money together,” he said. His message to the Netherlands is clear: “If we don’t move forward now, we run a very big risk in the next four to five years.”
Dread it, run from it, the Rutte doctrine arrives all the same