NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has told German publication Bild that the Alliance notices a global connection between China and Russia.
"China is focused on Taiwan. If it uses military force, it will pressure its junior partner, Russia under Putin’s leadership, to occupy Europe. Therefore, we must be prepared," Rutte emphasized.
When asked if Europe could repel a Russian invasion on its own, Rutte assured: "There is no need to worry about that."
"We are an alliance, and the US firmly supports NATO. A secure Europe means a secure America, so the US has a direct interest in regional security," he added.
"They will be ready to take up arms"
Regarding the readiness of the younger generation to defend their countries, Rutte said that if the situation becomes serious, they will be ready to take up arms.
He also stressed that the US remains committed to Europe’s security in both nuclear and conventional domains, but added that NATO needs to invest money, strengthen its defenses, and recruit the best personnel for protection.
Earlier, Reuters reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to seize all of Ukraine and ultimately restore control over parts of Europe that once belonged to the Soviet empire.
Among them are three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Albania, and Slovakia.
