Mark Rutte, the former prime minister of the Netherlands, has been secretary general of Nato for less than nine months. Rutte knew when he decided to seek the job that it would not be easy, but even the famously phlegmatic and unflappable Dutchman cannot have foreseen the intensity of events. Even so, he has stepped up to the challenge. At the Royal Institute of International Affairs, yesterday, he issued a stark warning:
This is a huge political and financial headache for Sir Keir Starmer
Because of Russia, war has returned to Europe… Russia has teamed up with China, North Korea and Iran. They are expanding their militaries and their capabilities. Putin’s war machine is speeding up – not slowing down… Russia could be ready to use military force against Nato within five years.
This threat led logically to the conclusion that Nato must spend far more on its defence than it currently does, especially in light of a likely reduced commitment from the United States.
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