Rutte warns: New Russian missiles can reach London and Madrid quickly
Photo: Mark Rutte (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
New Russian missiles can reach London or Madrid in a matter of minutes. That is why it is wrong to assume that life in Western Europe is significantly safer than on its eastern flank, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, according to the Alliance’s press service.
"Of course, the problem is, this is about the eastern flank, because here is a direct threat to the eastern flank from, for example, drones or whatever, could threaten our Allies on the eastern flank. But more generally speaking, you know, I don't like that whole eastern flank thinking, because it gives the impression that if I live in Madrid or in London, I am safer than when I live in Tallinn," Rutte said.
According to him, this is not true, because these new Russian missiles travel at five times the speed of sound, and it would take only five to ten minutes longer for them to reach Madrid or London than to reach Tallinn or Vilnius.
"So, in that sense, let's agree that within this Alliance of 32 countries, we all live on the eastern flank," added NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
What preceded
It should be recalled that Rutte earlier announced that NATO is launching the Eastern Sentry operation to strengthen the defense of Europe’s eastern flank in response to Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace.
On the night of September 10, around 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, most of them from Belarus. Air defense forces managed to shoot down four of the drones.
Polish authorities found the wreckage of 16 Russian drones that entered their territory during the attack. One drone fell on the grounds of a military base. Debris from the downed drones was discovered in 11 settlements across Poland.
In response to the Russian attack, NATO invoked Article 4, allowing member states to discuss the situation with allies in the North Atlantic Council.
Rutte later called the Alliance’s response to the incident in Poland "very successful." He emphasized that the previous night demonstrated NATO’s readiness to defend every inch of its territory, including its airspace.
