Mark Rutte thanks Romania for supporting Moldova in countering Russia’s hybrid attacks
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed his gratitude to Romania for its vital support to the authorities in Chișinău. Speaking in Bucharest on November 6, he acknowledged the "sense of urgency" voiced by President Nicușor Dan concerning Russia's hybrid threats, noting that Romania was closely monitoring the multifaceted war instigated by Moscow.
When asked by caleaeuropeană.ro about the trend described by the Romanian President, who stated that "Romania is one step behind Russia" in Moscow’s hybrid war against the West, Mark Rutte responded, "I'm not sure we are one step behind. I wouldn’t fully subscribe to that perspective, but I do share the president’s sense of urgency."
He assured that NATO, including Romania, is very aware of the hybrid threats, which are multi-faceted and cannot always be publicly discussed to avoid giving adversaries an advantage. He emphasized, "It is an integral part of our defense."
At the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen in October, President Nicușor Dan shared a document with European leaders regarding Russian interference that resulted in the cancellation of the November 2024 presidential elections.
NATO and the European Union explicitly named Romania as a target of Russia's hybrid campaigns in a series of firm statements issued in July by the North Atlantic Council and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, references which President Dan made several times.
The NATO Secretary General noted that he observed similar tactics in the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova, thanking Romania for its support to the authorities in Chișinău. Rutte stated, "Thank you, Romania, for everything you are doing for Moldova. It is crucial and extremely important that the elections are as free as possible."
“If Ukraine falls, the threat to Romania and NATO would be much greater”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated in Bucharest that continued support for Ukraine remains a matter of direct security for Romania and for the entire Alliance.
In the Romanian capital to open, together with President Nicușor Dan, the NATO Industry Forum, Rutte emphasized, in an interview with CaleaEuropeană.ro, that the development of defense industrial capabilities, support for Ukraine and NATO’s preparation for potential challenges from Russia are parts of the same deterrence strategy.
“When it comes to Ukraine, I want to send a message: (…) I know that there is a debate in every country – and in Romania – whether we should continue to support Ukraine. Please understand: if Ukraine were not supported, the threat to Romania would be much greater than it is now, with the Ukrainians continuing to fight,” said the NATO Secretary General.
Asked if the same was true for NATO, Rutte gave a blunt answer.
“Romania is NATO, NATO is Romania. There is no difference. When you talk about NATO, you talk about Romania. When you talk about Romania, you talk about NATO. As you see here – the Romanian flag, NATO – it is the same thing”, he added.
Rutte explained that the support given to Kyiv is not just an expression of political solidarity, but a key element of the direct defense of the Alliance’s borders.
*“We need to make sure that the Ukrainians resist, not only for our values, but because it is a direct threat to the security of Romania and the entire NATO if they do not continue the fight. If they do not resist”, he added.
The allied official warned that a possible Russian victory in Ukraine would amplify the risks for all member states, considerably increasing the pressure on defense budgets.
“Forget about the idea that you could only spend 3.5% of GDP on defense – and thank you, Romania, for doing so, even before 2035. But if Ukraine were to fall, you would have to reach 5, 6, 7% of GDP on defense. It would have massive effects on our societies. Because the Russians would then be emboldened and much stronger,” Rutte stressed.
Rutte described the strengthening of the European defense industry as a strategic urgency for the Alliance, emphasizing that military production and operational support for Ukraine are not mutually exclusive, but complement each other.
“We must increase defense production, absolutely, because it is an integral part of our deterrent defense. But we must also ensure that Ukraine remains as strong as possible in combat,” concluded Mark Rutte.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Romania for the first time since his appointment on November 5 and 6. During his visit, he met with President Nicușor Dan, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, and the leaders of the two chambers of the Bucharest Legislature. On Thursday, he also opened the NATO Defence Industry Forum, which was hosted by Romania and held under the patronage of the Alliance Secretary General, alongside the Romanian head of state.
The NATO Industry Forum is a strategic-level event designed to promote direct and ongoing collaboration between NATO and the defense industry. The theme for the 2025 edition of the forum is “NATO Rearmament – Innovation, Acceleration, Sustainability.”
This forum builds on the decision made by Heads of State and Government at the NATO Summit in The Hague in June to significantly increase defense investment. It aims to help determine how these funds should be allocated to ensure that Allies develop and deliver the capabilities needed to deter and defend against any adversary.
The event has attracted over 800 participants from 26 NATO and partner countries, as well as more than 300 defense industry companies.
