NATO's Secretary-General urged European leaders to step up defence efforts to prevent a war waged by Russia, that could be "on the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured".

Speaking in Berlin, Mark Rutte expressed concern that too many NATO member states have failed to grasp the immediacy of the threat posed by the Kremlin. In a candid assessment of the current geopolitical climate, the former Dutch Prime Minister stressed that the only way to avert a direct military confrontation is through a rapid and substantial increase in defence capabilities.

He warned that Russia could be militarily ready of launching an attack against NATO territory within the next five years.

"We must be prepared now," Rutte told the audience, urging allies to move beyond peacetime planning. He argued that the current pace of rearmament is insufficient to match a Russian economy that has effectively shifted to a total war footing.

"We are Russia's next target. And we are already in harm's way. When I became NATO Secretary General last year, I warned that what is happening in Ukraine could happen to allied countries too. That we have to shift to a wartime mindset," Rutte added.

While defence spending has risen across the alliance since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Rutte emphasised that financial pledges alone are no longer enough. The focus, he argued, must shift toward tangible industrial output.

"More allies, more allies in Europe need to urgently step up. We are grateful for the United States efforts in pursuing a lasting peace in Ukraine. Relevant progress has been made with crucial Ukrainian and European involvement," he said.

The NATO chief called for a massive expansion in the production of ammunition, weaponry, and military hardware to replenish depleted stockpiles and ensure credible deterrence. His remarks align with recent calls from military analysts who suggest that Europe must "future-proof" its security architecture, regardless of political changes in Washington.

Rutte’s intervention comes at a critical juncture for the security alliance. As the war in Ukraine approaches its third year, European nations are under increasing pressure to shoulder a larger burden of their own security.

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Several NATO members on the eastern flank, including Poland and the Baltic states, have already exceeded the alliance's target of spending 2% of GDP on defence. However, Rutte’s speech in Germany—Europe’s largest economy—was a clear signal that the continent’s major powers must lead the charge in strengthening the NATO shield.

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