"Don't be naive, no negotiations with Putin!" – NATO Secretary General
European NATO countries need to continue to arm themselves and invest as much as possible in defense, otherwise the alliance will find itself in a vulnerable position against Russia by the end of the decade.
NATO Secretary General Marco Rutte announced this at a press conference in Berlin, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
"Currently, we see that Russia is investing over 10% of its national income in defense . They spend almost 50% of the state budget on defense . Not only the military-industrial complex, but the entire industrial base is now working for military needs . During military operations, they replenish their reserves. All this indicates that the threat exists and is long-term!
"If we hadn't made the changes we've made over the last couple of years, we wouldn't be able to protect ourselves in the long term . We can protect ourselves today and tomorrow, but if we hadn't made these changes, we would be in a vulnerable position by 2029–2031 . Therefore, it's crucial that we continue to move in this direction," Rutte declared.
" Please don't be naive. I know there will always be people who will tell you, 'Oh, if only you'd sit down with Putin and do such and such.' This is a long-term prospect, it's a threat. Don't be naive!" the Secretary-General urged.
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"Don't be naive, no negotiations with Putin!" - NATO Secretary General