Politics

NATO boss Mark Rutte on Thursday warned of difficult times for the West in the next four to five years. ‘We are not at war, but we certainly don't have peace either,’ Rutte said.


It was the former Dutch prime minister's first major speech as NATO secretary-general. 


‘The danger is coming at us at full speed. We must not look away,’ Rutte said. ‘Our security is not in good shape. It is the worst situation of my life, I suspect also of yours. We should be very worried, I am at least.’


Despite the alarmist tone of his speech, he sees no immediate threat: ‘I am worried about tomorrow. We are not prepared for what will come at us in four to five years.’ 


According to Rutte, Russia is not only waging war against Ukraine, but is also waging a long-term battle against Western countries. He sees that the arms production of NATO allies does not follow the same pace of Russian and Chinese production. Therefore, defence spending in Western countries will have to go up.

(Fausto/Source: BBC, NRC, DS/Illustration picture: DPA picture alliance / Anadolu | Dursun Aydemir)