"The only threat that keeps me awake at night is Russia."
Modern.az reports that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said this during an interview with "Anadolu" agency.
Answering the reporter's question, "What is the biggest threat facing the Alliance today, and what is the biggest concern that keeps you awake at night as NATO Secretary General?" Mark Rutte pointed to official Moscow:
"I usually try to sleep, but if there's one topic that keeps me awake, it's Russia. Unfortunately, the fundamental threat we face in the long term is Russia. We see this clearly in Russia's war against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin risks 35,000 of his citizens, mostly men, being killed or seriously wounded every month in this war. This figure, on the one hand, shows Ukraine's success on the battlefield, and on the other hand, it reveals how great a tragedy it is for the families of soldiers who lose their lives or are seriously injured in these clashes."
Mark Rutte emphasized that Russia is not acting alone and is forming partnerships with other global powers:
"I can say that the biggest threat is Russia, but Russia is acting in this process together with North Korea, Iran, and China. China is also rapidly increasing its military potential, and by 2030, Beijing is expected to have 1,000 nuclear warheads. For this reason, we should not be naive about China. Within this 'quartet,' which also includes Iran and North Korea, Russia still remains at the forefront as a source of long-term strategic and fundamental threat."
