8 November 2025
NATO to mark key nuclear capabilities as Russia deterrent
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he plans to place greater emphasis on the Atlantic alliance’s nuclear capabilities in the future, primarily to deter Russia.
“It is important that we talk more about nuclear deterrence with our societies, to see how it contributes to our overall security,” Rutte said. Sunday edition of the German newspaper Die Welt,
“While Russia is making dangerous and reckless nuclear rhetoric, our population should know there is no need to panic, as NATO has a strong nuclear deterrent to maintain peace, deter coercion, and deter aggression,” he said.
Rutte also stressed the importance of NATO’s nuclear capabilities, which he said is the alliance’s “ultimate guarantee of our security”.
He added, “And (Russian President Vladimir) Putin should know that a nuclear war can never be won and should never be fought.”
Of the 32 NATO members, only the United States, France, and the United Kingdom have nuclear weapons.
Rutte also said that recent NATO nuclear exercises were successful, giving him “full confidence in the credibility of NATO’s nuclear deterrence.”
The former Dutch prime minister said, “It sent a clear signal to any adversary that NATO can and will defend all allies against all threats.”
Russia is the world’s largest nuclear power. Putin has repeatedly emphasized Russia’s nuclear weapons capabilities in order to dissuade the West from providing strong support to Ukraine.