NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made a statement regarding potential risks from Russia in the coming years. According to him, Russian troops are producing four times more shells than all NATO countries combined, which is an unprecedented scale in recent decades. He noted that by 2027-2032, Russia could achieve such military capability that it may carry out new provocations or aggression.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“Russia is indeed working hard to become a problem again… Open sources and intelligence services report that by 2027, 2030, or 2032, they (Russia – ed.) could reach a level of power where they might try to do something foolish. Therefore, we must make it clear to Vladimir Putin that if he attacks now or in the near future, NATO’s response will be devastating.”
Rutte emphasized that the most effective response from NATO allies should be an increase in defense spending, particularly focusing on raising the spending level to over 3% of GDP. U.S. President Donald Trump previously demanded a 5% threshold, but currently, only a few allies meet this target. The NATO Secretary General stressed that ensuring defense capabilities requires a massive upgrade of military resources — maneuverable ground forces, long-range missiles, air defense systems, command posts, and management systems.
At the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, scheduled for late June, discussions are planned on enhancing military support for Ukraine and ensuring lasting peace. Rutte emphasized the importance of avoiding a repeat of the Minsk agreements and finding long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. However, he did not specifically respond to what guarantees allies might offer, noting that it all depends on the results of peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, according to The New York Times, Russia is strengthening its military bases and building infrastructure near the border with Finland, increasing its presence in the region. Although these actions do not resemble a large-scale buildup of forces before the 2022 invasion, they raise concerns within NATO. Finland, which recently joined the Alliance, has the longest Finnish-Russian border in the world, measuring about 1,270 kilometers, and is a potential staging ground for possible conflicts.