NATO’s New Secretary General Rutte Insists, Ignore Putin’s Warnings about War Danger

Mark Rutte has been NATO Secretary General for 11 days so far, but has already proven his loyalty to the U.S./NATO narrative of Russia as the aggressive threat to the Atlantic Alliance. NATO allies “should not and do not” listen to “saber rattling” by Vladimir Putin because the Alliance is strong and can respond to any threats, he told Sky News in an interview on Oct. 10.

Rutte was blunt when quizzed whether NATO allies should heed alleged Russian saber rattling. “No, they shouldn’t, and they don’t,” he said. He continued: “NATO is strong. We can face any adversary. We have everything in place to make sure that NATO is safe and secure, and that we can fight off any threat. And we will never be intimidated by anyone outside NATO trying to threaten us. So that is of no use he could better stop that.” In other words, it’s damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead into nuclear war with Russia.

Rutte was in London for a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was also there, reportedly presented his so-called victory plan to both of them. Rutte declined to divulge details about the Ukrainian plan but told Sky News that he hopes victory comes “as soon as possible.”

Asked if Ukraine is weaker because allies such as the U.K. and the U.S. have yet to grant permission for Kyiv to use their long-range weapons, such as British Storm Shadow cruise missiles, against targets inside Russia, the NATO chief said, “I’m not sure it is.”

He continued, “There is this risk that we completely focus on one weapon system and then that is the thing of the day … to be absolutely clear, the main issue here is making sure that military aid continues to flow into Ukraine, that we ramp up also the industry production within Ukraine, help them with that massive logistics, and then one weapon system will not change the outcome of the war.”

According to the readout on Starmer and Rutte’s meeting at No. 10 Downing Street, they “discussed the importance of a strong and united NATO in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. The Prime Minister set out the U.K.’s steadfast contribution to Allied forces, including through the U.K.’s nuclear deterrent, and said he looked forward to working closely with the NATO Secretary General in the coming months and years.”

As for the meeting with Zelensky, Starmer “welcomed the opportunity to be briefed by the President, and underscored the U.K.’s steadfast commitment to a sovereign Ukraine. He added that he looked forward to hearing reflections from President Zelenskyy and the other international partners he was visiting this week,” that readout said. “Looking ahead to the winter, and the challenges that would bring, they both agreed on the need to ensure Ukraine was in the best possible position.”