NATO keeps accusing Russia of irresponsible nuclear rhetoric—as if NATO’s stated goal of seeking the “strategic defeat” of nuclear power Russia were not itself irresponsible and dangerous. On Nov. 8, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte let loose with some nuclear saber-rattling of his own. “It is important that we talk more with our societies about nuclear deterrence to ensure that people understand how nuclear deterrence contributes to our common security,” Rutte told an interviewer with Welt am Sonntag. “When Russia uses dangerous and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, our citizens must know that there is no reason to panic because NATO has a strong nuclear deterrent,” Rutte emphasized. “And Putin must know that a nuclear war can never be won and should never be fought.”
“Nuclear deterrence is the highest guarantee for our security. It is important that our nuclear deterrence remains credible, secure, guaranteed, and effective,” said Rutte. The alliance has just concluded the Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise. “The exercise was successfully carried out, which gives me absolute confidence in the credibility of NATO’s nuclear deterrence. The exercise sent a clear signal to any adversary that NATO can and will protect its allies against all threats.”
At the same time, Die Welt concludes that Russia has successfully deterred NATO from giving all the support to Ukraine that it could do otherwise. With its recent announcements on the Burevestnik and Poseidon weapons, “Moscow aims to deter the West from providing such extensive support to Ukraine in its defense against Russia that the Russian armed forces might suffer a defeat in the war, thereby jeopardizing Russia’s security,” Die Welt says. “This tactic of securing a conventional war with nuclear threats, and thus particularly endangering the security of states like Germany that do not possess nuclear weapons, has so far been successful. The West fears a potential Russian nuclear attack more than the consequences of a Ukrainian defeat.”
