Subscribe here: [ Ссылка ] The head of NATO just told allies they must return to a "war mindset" and "turbo-charge" defence spending to counter growing threats in what is surely the most consequential speech by an alliance chief since the Cold War.

In unusually stark language, Mark Rutte, the new NATO chief, warned all 32 member states of the "long term" danger posed by a confrontational Moscow as well as focusing on the threat from China, twice stressing how Beijing is expanding its arsenal of nuclear weapons.

"We should be profoundly concerned. I know I am," the former Dutch prime minister said on Thursday in his first major public speech since taking charge of NATO in October.

"Russia, China, but also North Korea and Iran, are hard at work to try to weaken North America and Europe," he said.

"They are testing us. And the rest of the world is watching. No, we are not at war. But we are certainly not at peace either."

Russia's cooperation with North Korea, Iran and China threatens Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Tuesday. "Russia working together with North Korea, Iran and China ... it threatens peace and security, yes, here in Europe, but also in the Indo-Pacific and in North America," said the head of the military alliance during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

'Danger is moving towards us at full speed. We must not look the other way. We must face it,' warns Mark Rutte. NATO chief Mark Rutte warns that Vladimir Putin is preparing for a prolonged confrontation with Europe, even beyond the war in Ukraine. Rutte emphasizes the need for Europe to remain united and vigilant against Russia's long-term ambitions. Watch for key insights on NATO's stance and future strategy!

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “wipe Ukraine off the map” and could come after other parts of Europe next, as he urged Europeans to press their governments to ramp up defense spending.

“It is time to shift to a wartime mindset,” Rutte told security experts and analysts at the Carnegie Europe think-tank in Brussels. He said people should gird themselves for the prospect that Russia might try to use “swarms of drones” in Europe as it has to deadly effect in Ukraine.

Putin “is trying to crush our freedom and way of life,” Rutte said. The former Dutch prime minister listed Russia’s attacks on Georgia in 2008, the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and the all-out invasion launched almost three years ago.

“How many more wake-up calls do we need? We should be profoundly concerned. I know I am,” he said. “Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation. With Ukraine, and with us.”

Rutte said that “a bad deal means Putin coming out on top, and that will have worldwide ramifications, not only on Europe and Ukraine.” He insisted that Ukraine must be involved in any peace talks.

Trump routinely complains that U.S. allies in NATO are not spending enough on defense. Rutte said Russia’s military spending is likely to amount to 7 to 8% of its GDP next year -– far more than any NATO ally –- while its defense industry churns out tanks, armored vehicles and ammunition.

Putin also has the support of allies like China, Iran and North Korea.

Rutte noted that defense spending has risen sharply in Europe, with 23 allies expected to reach NATO’s target of putting 2% of GDP into their military budgets. But he added: “I can tell you, we are going to need a lot more than 2%.”

Rutte listed a series of recent “hostile actions” by Russia against NATO allies, including cyber-attacks, assassinations, an explosion at a Czech ammunition depot, the jamming of radars in the Baltic region to disrupt air traffic, and the “weaponization” of migrants to destabilize Europe.

“These attacks are not just isolated incidents. They are the result of a coordinated campaign to destabilize our societies and discourage us from supporting Ukraine,” he said. “They circumvent our deterrence and bring the front line to our front doors.”

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