Mark Rutte warns of devastating NATO response to attack on Poland
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Wednesday, during a visit to Warsaw, that a potential "attack against Poland or any other ally" would be "devastating," Agerpres reports, citing AFP and Reuters.
"If someone were to miscalculate and believe they could get away unpunished for attacking Poland or any other ally, they would face the full force of this fierce alliance," Rutte said during a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
"Our response will be devastating. This should be made very clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and anyone else considering an attack on us!" he added.
Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, the cornerstone of the Alliance, guarantees the collective defense of each member in the event of aggression.
In this regard, NATO's commitment to defending Poland in any critical situation is crucial, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized in front of the press after his meeting with the NATO chief. "Reaffirming NATO’s commitment to defend Poland in any critical situation is crucial for us," he said, adding that U.S. representatives have repeatedly emphasized their readiness to defend Poland and other NATO countries in the face of any threat.
Mark Rutte’s visit to Warsaw comes as the U.S. pressures for a swift end to the war in Ukraine, with European partners being sidelined in the negotiations.
Poland, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, invaded by Russia, and sharing borders with both countries, is well ahead of its NATO allies in terms of its defense budget, planning to allocate 4.7% of its GDP this year, Agerpres notes.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
