NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has issued a stark warning to the alliance, declaring, “We must prepare for a coming world war, NATO chief warns.” Speaking in Berlin, Rutte urged NATO member states to dramatically intensify their collective defence efforts amid what he described as a looming large-scale conflict with Russia — one that could mirror “the wars our grandparents and great-grandparents endured.”
In his keynote address, Rutte rebuked alliance partners who, he said, failed to grasp the urgency of the Russian threat. “We are Russia’s next target. I fear too many are quietly complacent,” he cautioned. “Too many don’t feel the urgency. And too many believe time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now.”
“Conflict is at our door,” he declared. “Russia has brought war back to Europe, and we must be prepared.” Rutte warned that Moscow could be ready to launch military action against NATO within five years, as the war in Ukraine continues without any sign of resolution.
He called for a shift from post-war comfort to a “wartime mindset”, arguing that increased defence spending alone would not suffice. “This is not the time for self-congratulation,” Rutte said, repeating his concern that many in Europe underestimate the scale of the threat.
“Putin is paying for his pride with the blood of his own people,” Rutte added. “If he is willing to sacrifice ordinary Russians in this way, what might he be prepared to do to us?”
Critics, however, note that Rutte’s address ignored Moscow’s stated grievances, including NATO’s continued eastward expansion — a factor Russia has long described as the root cause of the conflict.
Rutte also directed sharp criticism towards China, claiming that Russia’s war effort depends heavily on Beijing’s support. “China is Russia’s lifeline,” he said. “Without China’s help, Russia could not continue this war. Around 80 per cent of the critical electronic components in Russian drones and other systems come from China. So, when civilians die in Kyiv or Kharkiv, Chinese technology is often inside the weapons that kill them.”
Observers were quick to note the irony: Western military systems — including those used by the United States — also rely heavily on Chinese-made components, a reality few in the defence establishment openly acknowledge.
Meanwhile, European leaders continue to reject Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan, which includes recognising Russian control over Crimea and parts of Donbas — terms deemed unacceptable in Brussels. For now, hawkish voices appear firmly in control of European policy.
A commentator on social media summarised the mood in bleak terms:
“Frenzied, desperate politicians are bringing back conscription while curbing free speech and economic opportunity for young people — and calling it WWII all over again. Dropping out, lying flat, giving up — are now rational choices.”
