NATO chief: Alliance’s nuclear deterrence fully credible against Russia

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed “absolute confidence in the credibility of NATO's nuclear deterrence” following the successful completion earlier this month of the alliance’s annual nuclear exercise.

Speaking to German weekly Welt am Sonntag, Rutte highlighted the reassurance this provides to populations amid Russian nuclear threats, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

“When Russia is using dangerous and reckless nuclear rhetoric, our populations must know that there is no need to panic, because NATO has a strong nuclear deterrent,” he said. “And [Russian President Vladimir] Putin must know that nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought.”

Rutte’s remarks come as Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned the West of possible nuclear consequences since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last month, Putin stated that Russia could deploy nuclear weapons if targeted with conventional missiles and that any attack supported by a nuclear power would be treated as a joint assault.

Earlier, on November 6, Rutte addressed defence industry leaders regarding NATO’s broader strategic posture. He emphasised that the alliance has now overtaken Russia in ammunition production, marking a significant shift in Europe’s defence capabilities.

“For the foreseeable future, Russia will remain a destabilising force in Europe and the world,” he said. Rutte also warned of Russia’s cooperation with China, North Korea, Iran, and other nations, noting that these partnerships are strengthening defence-industrial capabilities to “unprecedented levels” in preparation for a long-term confrontation.

Invoking World War II-era U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rutte remarked: “’Powerful enemies must be out-fought and out-produced.’ That was in 1942, and the same can be said today. We call it peace through strength. NATO will do its part, and we need industry to do yours.”

He outlined three pillars of NATO’s strategy: quantity, creativity, and cooperation.

“First, on quantity, we already have state-of-the-art systems—the best of the best. These give us an edge, and we will keep it sharp,” he said. “Which we need more, and we need fast. That means increasing production and shortening delivery times. We are already turning the tide on ammunition. Until recently, Russia was producing more ammunition than all NATO Allies put together. But not anymore.”

Rutte noted that across the alliance, dozens of new production lines are being established and existing ones expanded, boosting output to levels unseen in decades. This effort extends beyond ammunition to include advanced air defence systems and low-cost drone interceptors, ensuring NATO maintains technological and strategic superiority.

By Tamilla Hasanova