"At one point someone said it'll take 10 years but I think we're back to less than 10 years because of the industrial base that is now running in Russia," Kristoffersen stated.He emphasized the urgency for NATO to utilize this critical 2-3 year period to "rebuild our forces, to rebuild our stocks at the same time as we are supporting Ukraine."
Polish FM: If Putin wins, he’ll mobilize Ukraine’s people and industry to continue war, like Hitler did with CzechoslovakiaKristoffersen cited Russia's public messaging from President Vladimir Putin that he is not interested in war with NATO. However, the Norwegian defense chief made clear that allied military planners cannot afford complacency.
"I see a window now where we can meet the requirements that NATO has agreed on, new command structure, new force structures, the new regional plans," he said. "So we can fulfill those plans and those decisions with content in the next years but we need to speed up. We need to do it in two to three years to make sure that we are ready for whatever might happen."
NATO allies “deeply concerned” about recent Russian hybrid operations on Allied territoryRead also:
- ISW: Russian “compatriot card” program potentially justifying future foreign interventions
- Ukrainian PM warns of ‘third world war’ if Russia prevails
- Polish FM: If Putin wins, he’ll mobilize Ukraine’s people and industry to continue war, like Hitler did with Czechoslovakia
- Finnish intel: Russia’s goal is undermining Western backing for Ukraine
- Borrell: Russia is the most existential threat to Europe
- NATO allies “deeply concerned” about recent Russian hybrid operations on Allied territory
- Danish PM criticizes Europe’s “naive” attitude to Russian threats
