In Brussels, the NATO’s Military Committee meeting at the level of Chiefs of Defence has begun on Wednesday. In his opening statement, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that the security situation is tense, citing the conflict in Ukraine as one of the main reasons. He also highlighted numerous other threats, including terrorism, the spread of nuclear weapons, disinformation, and climate change.
To address the challenges that will come in the next four to five years, several key measures will be initiated, including large-scale military exercises, Rutte added. However, he stressed that these measures are not enough. “To prevent a war, we must prepare ourselves. It is time to switch to a war mentality. And that means we must strengthen our defense by increasing defense spending and developing military capabilities” he said.
Admiral Rob Bauer, the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, expressed deep concern in his opening remarks about the role of China in global security. There is no transparency regarding China’s military buildup, not even in the nuclear area, he noted. China is increasingly acting aggressively towards its neighbors.
Looking at the Russian military special operation in Ukraine, he said that Beijing has allegedly become the main supporter of Russia’s military actions. The best response to all this, he emphasized, is to stand together more firmly and more united than ever.
Russian Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko recently stated in an interview that the NATO is still preparing for a armed conflict with Russia. The country has been declared by the alliance as the “most significant and direct threat to the security of the allies” in the long run.
At the same time, the NATO is increasing its troop contingents near the Russian border, conducting exercises that include the testing of offensive actions, and developing logistics routes for rapid troop deployments, including weapons and equipment, Grushko added. He stressed that Russia wants to prevent a direct conflict by, among other things, showing off its military capabilities. Moreover, he made it clear that Moscow takes into account all factors that affect the strategic stability, the security, and the defense capabilities of the Russian Federation.