Rutte Says NATO Sees No Immediate Threat From Russia

NATO Sees No Immediate Russian Threat, Rutte Says

02:02 15-10-2026

Mark Rutte says NATO sees no immediate Russian threat but is ready to respond to troop buildups, as the alliance expands its eastern flank presence.

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance currently sees no immediate threat of a Russian attack on any member state.

According to Rutte, NATO does not believe Russia is considering an attack on one of the alliance’s countries and sees no direct threat to NATO territory at this stage.

At the same time, he said the alliance would respond immediately if it detected signs of preparations for a possible attack or a concentration of forces. Rutte added that NATO already has the necessary defense plans in place to protect the entire territory of its member states.

He also reiterated that NATO presents itself as a defensive alliance and does not intend to attack other countries.

In recent years, however, NATO has significantly expanded its military presence on the eastern flank. According to the alliance, the number of multinational battle groups in the region had increased from four to nine by 2026, including a newly formed group in Finland.

Russia has repeatedly stated that it does not plan to attack NATO countries. Moscow has also said that the expansion of alliance military infrastructure near Russian borders forces it to take additional measures to protect national security.