NATO Secretary-General: War could hit every home in Europe
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has warned that a global war with Russia could hit every home in Europe and cause massive destruction, calling for preparations “like what our fathers and grandfathers met”.
In a speech in the German capital Berlin on Thursday, Rutte said NATO must recognize that Russia considers us the next target, noting that a potential war could affect every home and workplace, causing massive destruction, displacement of millions of people, widespread suffering and heavy losses.
He stressed that this scenario is appalling but could be avoided if Europe committed to improving its defenses, in light of several incidents that have exacerbated tensions between NATO members and Russia in recent weeks.
Rutte’s comments came after British paratrooper George Holley was killed last Tuesday in an incident “off the front” while observing a Ukrainian military test of a new defense technology.
In this regard, Russia accused Britain of helping Ukraine carry out terrorist attacks, as Moscow has stressed that any foreign forces in Ukraine are a legitimate target, which Europe has considered a direct threat, and on the otherhand, London responded by emphasizing that only Russia bears responsibility for the illegal war in Ukraine.
In related context, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the era of American hegemony in Europe, as well as in Germany, is over and no longer exists in the form previously known, stressing that this shift forces the Europeans, and the Germans in particular, to reconsider the way they deal with their strategic interests.
In a speech to the Bavarian Christian Social Party conference in Munich, Mertz explained that the United States is now vigorously pursuing its own interests, stressing that this reality means only one thing: Germany and Europe must in turn seek to protect and defend their interests.
The German chancellor added that his country isn’t as weak as he thought, nor as small as previously thought, referring to Germany’s ability to play a more independent and influential role in the next phase.
