Rutte gave a stern warning to Russia

Speaking in Warsaw with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on March 26, Rutte congratulated the country on spending 4.7% of GDP on defense, the highest among NATO members.

Rutte added that the Russian Federation was and remains the greatest threat to the Alliance and that it is transitioning to a wartime economy, which will have a major impact on its potential and ability to build its armed forces.

In particular, the Secretary General of the Alliance reiterated his promise to defend Poland and any other NATO member in the event of an invasion.

When it comes to the defense of Poland and the overall defense of NATO territory, if anyone miscalculates and thinks they can get away with attacking Poland or any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this formidable alliance. Our response will be devastating. This should be very clear to Putin (Vladimir Putin, dictator of Russia, — ed.) and anyone else who... wants to attack us.

Mark Rutte

NATO Secretary General

In early 2024, the German newspaper Bild published a scenario of German military exercises, during which the military prepares for a Russian hybrid attack on the Alliance's eastern flank. Commenting on this material, a NATO official noted that the relevant training scenarios always represent an imaginary situation to test military capabilities.