(MENAFN) In a stark and unprecedented declaration, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, the chair of the NATO Military Committee, has issued a call for the United States-led NATO bloc to brace itself for a significant conflict with Russia in the next 20 years. Following a high-level meeting of NATO defense chiefs in Brussels, Admiral Bauer emphasized the need for comprehensive preparedness, extending beyond military forces to encompass the mass mobilization of civilians and the rapid expansion of industrial output to sustain a potential war effort.
Bauer highlighted the critical importance of acknowledging that global peace is not guaranteed, emphasizing the necessity of preparing for a conflict with Russia. "It starts there.
The realization that not everything is planable and not everything is going to be hunky-dory in the next 20 years," he remarked, underscoring the uncertainty and geopolitical challenges on the horizon.
The NATO chair warned that such a conflict would demand a concerted effort from both military forces and the industries and civilians of member states. The emphasis on civilian involvement and industrial readiness indicates a shift in NATO's approach, recognizing the multifaceted nature of modern warfare and the need for a collective, society-wide response.
"You need to be able to fall back on an industrial base that is able to produce weapons and ammunition fast enough to be able to continue a conflict if you are in it," Bauer explained, highlighting the strategic imperative for a robust industrial foundation capable of sustaining a prolonged conflict.
These statements come against the backdrop of growing concerns within NATO member states about a potential conflict between the alliance and Russia. Earlier this week, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas asserted that the alliance has a mere three to five years to ready itself for a potential confrontation. The urgency conveyed by NATO leadership signals a shift in geopolitical dynamics, prompting a reevaluation of defense strategies and a heightened state of readiness within the alliance.
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