Rutte called for an awareness of the seriousness of current threats and a willingness to prevent them. Without active action, NATO risks being unprepared for potential military conflicts that could affect the Alliance's territories
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has sent an important message to the citizens of NATO member states, stressing the need for psychological preparation for possible military conflicts. His statement, according to NOT, is based on growing global threats, including the actions of russia, China and other authoritarian states seeking to undermine Western democracies.
What did Rutte say?
Rutte emphasised the need to increase military budgets to strengthen defence. This is due to threats from russia, China, Iran and North Korea.
Particular attention was paid to China's nuclear potential, which continues to actively build up its arsenal.
Ukraine has become an example of a global threat
The war in Ukraine has become a central example of the threat that authoritarian states pose to the democratic world.
Russia, he said, is preparing for a long confrontation not only with Ukraine but also with NATO countries.
Rutte noted that countries such as russia and China are seeking to change the world order in their favour using military and economic leverage. At the same time, North Korea is supporting russia in its war against Ukraine, increasing tensions in international relations.
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A warning for NATO countries
According to Rutte, what is happening in Ukraine could become a reality for any country if the Alliance does not take decisive action.
This statement underlines the importance of NATO's unity and readiness to act quickly.
Rutte called on the citizens of NATO member states to support their politicians as they face difficult decisions, including budgetary reallocations. To ensure security, cuts to social programmes such as healthcare and pensions may be necessary.
This initiative has sparked public debate, as cuts in social spending are always associated with some discontent. However, as Rutte emphasised, it is impossible to ensure long-term stability without sufficient defence funding.
Not the first warnings from the West
We wrote earlier that Germany and the Nordic countries are preparing citizens for a possible war. In particular, Germany has started developing a mobile application that will help citizens quickly find the nearest bunkers in case of a threat. This is part of the national bunkering plan initiated by the Federal Office for Civil Protection.
As a large number of public shelters in the country were dismantled after the end of the Cold War, the country is rebuilding and modernising such facilities. This is a necessity, as according to official figures, there are currently less than 600 public shelters in Germany, which can only accommodate 480,000 people.
Subways, school basements, government offices, and even private garages are being used as bunkers. German households are encouraged to equip their own basements, and builders are required to design safe shelters in new buildings.
We remind you! Today, the world is facing new challenges, and the threat of a nuclear explosion no longer seems to be just a theory. In such circumstances, preparation becomes not just a choice but a necessity. We talked about the right actions to take in the first minutes after a nuclear explosion and how to prepare for it.
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