CaliToday (10/11/2025): In a stern interview, Mark Rutte slams Russia’s 'dangerous rhetoric' but reassures NATO public: 'No reason to panic.'
BERLIN – NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has issued one of his sharpest public warnings to Vladimir Putin, directly confronting Moscow's repeated allusions to its nuclear arsenal.
In a high-profile interview with the German newspaper "Welt am Sonntag," Rutte delivered a clear and forceful message aimed directly at the Russian president.
"Putin must know that a nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought," Rutte stated.
The NATO chief's comments come amid a backdrop of what he termed "dangerous and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric" from Russia, which President Putin has consistently highlighted as a core element of Russia's military potential throughout the war in Ukraine.
No Reason to Panic
While his warning to Moscow was stark, Rutte's message was also aimed at reassuring the populations of the 32-member alliance. He stressed that Russia's strategy of nuclear intimidation should not cause public hysteria.
"When Russia uses dangerous and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, our citizens must know that there is no reason to panic," Rutte emphasized.
He explained that this calm is justified by the alliance's own preparedness: "NATO possesses a strong nuclear deterrent."
Rutte, who recently took the helm of the alliance, elaborated on the foundational role of this capability.
"Nuclear deterrence is the highest guarantee of our security and must therefore remain credible, safe, guaranteed, and effective," he declared.
A Call for Public Understanding
Beyond just warning Russia, Rutte also urged Western political leaders to engage more openly with their own societies about the realities of nuclear deterrence.
"It is important that we speak more with our societies about nuclear deterrence," Rut-te told the German paper, "to ensure that people understand how it contributes to our common security."
This, he implied, is the most effective counter-measure to Russian propaganda attempts that seek to create fear and division within the West.
Context: The "Ineffective" Threat
Rutte's forceful statements reflect a hardening stance within NATO. Military analysts note that while Russia's nuclear threats may have caused significant alarm and hesitation in the West during the initial months of the Ukraine war, their effectiveness has waned.
As the conflict has dragged on, NATO allies have significantly invested in, restored, and reorganized their own defense and industrial capabilities. The alliance has demonstrated a long-term resolve to support Ukraine and reinforce its own eastern flank, largely undeterred by the rhetoric from Moscow.
Rutte's interview signals a new phase of this strategic communication: actively dismissing the threats as irresponsible posturing rather than allowing them to dictate NATO's policy. The underlying message, analysts suggest, is that any nuclear escalation would be suicidal for Russia, as it would guarantee a devastating, alliance-wide response a scenario best avoided by all.
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