NATO Chief Warns Putin Against Attack on Poland

NATO Chief Warns Putin Against Attack on Poland dw.com • 28 million • 3 minutes read Poland sees itself as particularly threatened by Russia in light of the war in Ukraine. During a visit to Warsaw, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reaffirmed the alliance's readiness to strike back. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against an attack on Poland. Anyone who thinks they can get away with an attack on Poland or another NATO country is mistaken and will "feel the full force of this determined alliance," Rutte said during a visit to the Polish capital, Warsaw. "Our response will be devastating," added the head of the Western military alliance. This must be clear to Putin and "anyone else who wants to attack us." More Money for the Military "Russia is and remains the greatest and most serious threat to our alliance," Rutte emphasized at a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Moscow is in the process of converting its economy to a "war economy," which will have a huge impact on the capabilities of the Russian military. In this context, Rutte welcomed the planned increase in defense spending in Europe and Canada. He agreed with US President Donald Trump that NATO countries must invest even more in their security. The partnership with the United States remains "the cornerstone of our alliance—and that will not change," the Dutchman continued. Tusk emphasized that, given the changing geopolitical situation, it is very important for Poland to have confirmation "that NATO is committed to defending Poland in every critical situation." The Prime Minister also addressed the ceasefire talks between US representatives and Ukraine and Russia: "Let's be honest, our influence on these negotiations is, to put it politely, limited. So we as NATO, as Poland, must be all the more prepared for scenarios that we don't yet fully understand." Poland therefore intends to spend 4.7 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on national defense this year. Furthermore, the government in Warsaw intends to withdraw from the Ottawa Agreement banning anti-personnel mines – as do Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. All four countries are close allies of Ukraine. Sweden is rearming The new NATO member Sweden also intends to drastically increase its defense spending over the next ten years. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced at a press conference in Stockholm that it will invest an additional 300 billion Swedish kronor (equivalent to just under €28 billion) in defense by 2035. This is the plan for the largest military buildup since the days of the Cold War. Since the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, we have found ourselves in a completely new security situation. Furthermore, there is considerable uncertainty about transatlantic relations, Kristersson said, referring to Trump's policies. These uncertainties will persist for a long time. The loan-financed investments are necessary to spend around 3.5 percent of GDP on defense by 2030, explained Sweden's Prime Minister. Currently, the Scandinavian country spends around 2.4 percent. After the end of the Cold War, Sweden significantly reduced its military spending in the 1990s. Only after the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014 did the government in Stockholm begin investing more heavily in the country's security. In March 2024, Sweden, which had previously been a non-aligned country, finally officially joined NATO.