Rutte Warns of Russian Missile Threats: A Unified NATO Defense is Essential

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a warning regarding the threat posed by Russian missiles to cities across Europe, emphasizing that the risk extends beyond the countries situated on the alliance’s eastern flank. In his address, he highlighted that advanced Russian weaponry is capable of quickly reaching major cities like London and Madrid, rendering the notion of a division within NATO into “eastern” and “western” flanks obsolete.

Rutte stated, “I don’t like this concept of thinking in terms of the ‘eastern flank’ because it creates the false impression that people in Madrid or London are safer than those in Tallinn. This is not true. The latest Russian missiles fly at five times the speed of sound and will reach Madrid or London only five to ten minutes later than Tallinn or Vilnius.”

He called for a reinforcement of the alliance’s collective defense and underscored the necessity of a unified strategy to safeguard all member states. Additionally, Rutte pointed out the critical importance of modernizing missile defense systems to effectively counter emerging threats.