NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Wednesday that the most effective way to prevent war is to prepare for it, urging member states to adopt a “wartime mindset.” Speaking at a NATO Military Committee meeting in Brussels, Rutte emphasized the need for increased defense spending and the development of advanced military capabilities.
“To prevent war, we need to prepare for it. It is time to shift to a wartime mindset. This means we need to make our defenses even stronger by spending more on defense and producing better defense capabilities,” Rutte said.
The Military Committee, NATO’s highest military authority, convened on January 15-16 to discuss bolstering deterrence and defense, expanding global partnerships, and continuing support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. Russia has been identified as “the most significant and direct threat to NATO allies’ security,” with NATO responding by enhancing its presence near Russian borders, conducting offensive-simulation exercises, and upgrading infrastructure for rapid troop deployment.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko underscored Moscow’s commitment to avoiding direct confrontation, stressing the role of demonstrating military capabilities as a deterrent. NATO’s growing dominance across operational domains and increased proximity to Russia are central points of contention as both sides strengthen their military postures.
