"Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation, with Ukraine and with us," Mark Rutte said, adding: "We are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years."

Summary

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that the alliance must adopt a “wartime mindset” to prepare for long-term confrontation with Russia.

Speaking in Brussels, he urged members to increase defense spending beyond the 2% GDP target, noting that only 23 of 32 members currently meet it.

Rutte emphasized boosting defense production, addressing cyber threats, and countering China’s military buildup and actions toward Taiwan.

His remarks come as Donald Trump threatens to withhold defense support from NATO members failing to meet spending commitments, raising concerns about alliance unity.

  • GreenKnight23@lemmy.worldEnglish
    141·
    6 days ago

    instead of war let’s use critical weather as an analogy.

    it’s getting colder, and there’s 16 extra feet of snow on the local mountain range than usual.

    do you:

    a) prepare for a long hard winter by increasing your grocery budget by 25%

    b) do nothing because the snow is up there and you haven’t seen more than 4 ft id snow in 45 years.

    • spongebue@lemmy.worldEnglish
      22·
      6 days ago

      instead of war let’s use critical weather as an analogy

      That’s hard to agree with. War efforts are largely dependent on finite resources, of which the upstream comment argued that if Russia is struggling (and losing those finite resources for later use) in Ukraine, they’re sure to have even less if they spread their efforts elsewhere.

      Weather generally doesn’t get “used up” the same way, so it would make more sense to be prepared for that theoretical unlimited supply of snow.

      Do I think countries around Russia should be on alert? Yes. Do I think their position is weaker now than it was before they invaded Ukraine, which would continue further if they tried the same thing elsewhere? Also yes.

    • Churbleyimyam@lemm.eeEnglish
      55·
      6 days ago

      In your analogy it’s like increasing your grocery budget by 25%, knowing that you already have more than enough groceries to see you through the winter and that extra 25% will rot before it gets used. Spending that extra money on groceries has also cost you the opportunity to buy a backup generator in case the snow knocks out your power supply as well as a new starter motor for your snowmobile.

      • GreenKnight23@lemmy.worldEnglish
        52·
        6 days ago

        you do realized there’s shelf stable food that can last years…right?

        also, buying a generator or motor would also go towards your “defense budget” of your impending blizzard…

        that means you either didn’t understand the analog or you’re arguing under the false pretense that Russia isn’t a credible threat.

        and although I tend to agree that Russia is not an advanced threat, even a broken old dog is able to bite you once so we should prepare for it at least.